A study on the changes in the foreign language anxiety levels experienced by the students of the preparatory school at Gazi University during an academic year

The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a meaningful difference between the foreign language anxiety levels of university students at the beginning and at the end of the academic year.The present study has been based on comparing the mean scores of foreign language anxiety levels of 913 students at Gazi University Preparatory School in 2004-2005 academic year. The relevant data have been obtained by conducting ?The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale? with 33 items.As a result of the research, it was found that a significant increase emerged in the participants? foreign language anxiety levels at the end of the academic year. Concerning the components of the foreign languae anxiety, a significant increase has been observed in the participants? levels of ?fear of negative evaluation? and ?language anxiety related to learners? beliefs, perceptions and feelings?. No significant change occured in the participants? ?test anxiety? levels while their ?communication apprehension? level declined except for ?speaking anxiety?.The present study also indicates the fact that students with insufficient language achievement experienced an increase in their foreign language anxiety levels at the end of the academic year, whereas, successful students did not. Similar to this situation, male students experienced a higher increase in their anxiety levels than female students did.