中国学生英语写作的感知焦虑来源——雅思写作Task 2的个案研究

Perceived sources of Chinese students anxiety about English writing--A case study of IELTS writing Task 2

本研究对四名雅思考生进行了半结构式访谈,探讨了中国大学生对雅思写作Task2焦虑的感知来源。结果发现第一,在雅思写作Task 2中,源于对写作题目主题不熟悉的恐惧,考生普遍感到焦虑;考生还认为这种恐惧会影响写作过程写作偏离正确的命题、捏造文章内容、不令人信服的例证。第二,考生认为焦虑并非源自语言能力水平高低,相反,在备考过程中通过练习获得的自我感知语言能力降低了写作中的语言焦虑。第三,对评分或评价标准的不确定性在写作过程中未引起强烈焦虑,但在考前和考后阶段会存在潜在影响。最后本研究提出了教学启示和建议。

This case study investigated the perceived sources of Chinese university students'anxiety about IELTS's writing Task 2.Semi-structured interviews were conducted on four participants,all of whom took IELTS more than once,with 3-month to 1-year preparation.The findings were:first,in IELTS writing Task 2,test-takers largely felt anxious for fear of unfamiliarity with the topic,which affected their process of essay writing,in way of deviating writing from the correct proposition,fabricating the essay,and writing unconvincing exemplification.Second,test-takers did not believe anxiety resulted from language ability levels;instead,their self-perceived language ability,gained from practice in test preparation,lowered their language anxiety in writing.Third,participants did not feel anxious because of the uncertainty of the rating or rubric in writing test,but this uncertainty potentially affected the anxiety in pre-and post-test phases.In the end,pedagogical implications and suggestions were provided.