Examining Foreign Language Communication Apprehension: Testing Models in Geographically and Linguistically Diverse Populations

• In Event: Studies on Traits and Behaviors in Intercultural Communication

Abstract

The current paper sought to create and validate a measure of foreign language communication anxiety (FLCA) for adults who use a non-native language in everyday settings. Two studies were conducted, with participants reporting English as their native language and reporting on FLCA in a second language (Study 1) and with participants who spoke a variety of languages as their native language and reported on FLCA when speaking in English (Study 2). In both studies, the foreign language anxiety scale (FLAS) demonstrated construct validity, as it was internally reliable and factored into a unidimensional scale. Additionally, FLAS demonstrated convergent and divergent validity, and concurrent validity by predicting the number of places that participants used the foreign language, even after controlling for demographics, foreign language ability, and general CA. Interestingly, the relationship between FLAS the number of places that the foreign language was used was in opposite directions in the two samples.

Authors

• Lisa M Guntzviller, Utah State University

• Robert N Yale, U of Dallas