English language student teacher anxiety in online and face-to-face practicum

Language learning is an indispensable part of the current educational system. Researchers and educators are striving to discover the most effective methods of teaching and acquiring additional languages. In addition to studies on second language acquisition (SLA), extensive research has been conducted on various factors influencing this process, including affective factors such as anxiety. Numerous studies have explored anxiety in relation to foreign language learning, teacher and teaching anxiety, and the impact of anxiety on the teaching and learning processes. However, insufficient attention has been given to investigating EFL student teacher anxiety, necessitating further research in this area. Therefore, the present study aims to uncover EFL student teacher anxiety during their teaching practice and examine the changes in anxiety levels experienced by pre-service English teachers over time. A mixed-methods approach employing a sequential explanatory design model was adopted for this study. A total of 182 EFL student teachers participated, providing quantitative data through a 5-point Likert scale called the Foreign Language Student Teacher Anxiety (FLSTA) scale. Additionally, 14 participants were involved in qualitative data collection, which included interviews and reflective journals. The collected data were analyzed statistically to obtain descriptive and explanatory results. The findings revealed that participants in each group (junior and senior students in online practicum, and senior students in face-to-face practicum) exhibited a moderate level of anxiety. Furthermore, the sources of anxiety and the solutions to alleviate anxiety levels varied across different educational settings.