Analysis of the relationship between Foreign Language Anxiety and Language Learning Strategies by Proficiency Levels

This study analyzed the relationship between foreign language anxiety and language learning strategies among EFL learners at different English proficiency levels. The study involved 195 participants and examined the correlation between their levels of foreign language anxiety and their use of learning strategies through a Google survey, followed by in-depth interviews. The findings revealed that learners at high proficiency levels exhibited moderate language anxiety, and metacognitive strategy was found to be the most effective in managing anxiety at this level. At the intermediate level, cognitive strategy significantly helped reduce foreign language anxiety. Learners at low proficiency levels displayed higher anxiety, particularly regarding test and communication, but social and metacognitive strategies were effective in alleviating this anxiety. These results underscored the critical role of targeted learning strategies in mitigating foreign language anxiety, offering valuable insights for educators in developing instructional methods or educational content that apply affective filter strategies according to proficiency levels to enhance language acquisition.