Young Childrens Foreign Language Anxiety

The Case of South Korea

By (author) Jieun Kiaer, Jessica M. Morgan-Brown, Naya Choi

Publication date:

03 June 2021

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

234x156mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781800411609

This book investigates the effects of foreign language anxiety (FLA) on young language learners, using as a basis for observation the early childhood English education industry in South Korea that has arisen as a result of English fever. The authors combine existing knowledge on the topic of FLA together with original research on FLA in young language learners to fill a large gap in knowledge with regards to this understudied and distinct group of learners. The book includes suggestions for alleviating FLA and encouraging foreign language enjoyment, which can be implemented by parents, teachers and policymakers and which will ultimately facilitate more effective language learning and support children’s psychosocial wellbeing. 

Focusing on young learners in South Korea, this book provides invaluable insights on L2 anxiety from psychological, cognitive, developmental, educational and sociocultural perspectives. The interdisciplinary analysis shows dynamic interaction between the sociocultural context and L2 anxiety, and the specificity of the context and learners, ironically, expands the scope of L2 anxiety research focus in applied linguistics.