Foreign Language Anxiety and the Learning Process in Kurdish Native Speakers: The Case of Cihan University

This study aims to examine the language anxiety experienced by Kurdish native-speaking students at Cihan University in the process of learning a foreign language (Turkish and English) and its effects on their learning process. Language anxiety, which constitutes a significant obstacle in the language learning process, is deeply intertwined with socio-cultural factors, as extensively discussed in the literature. In this context, the study seeks to evaluate the anxiety experiences of multilingual individuals in different languages, considering their social and cultural contexts. This research aims to address a significant gap by exploring the language anxiety experienced by Kurdish native-speaking students while learning Turkish and English, along with the communication strategies they employ to cope with this anxiety. Conducted using a mixed-methods approach, the study collected both quantitative and qualitative data through surveys administered to participants. The findings reveal that language anxiety has a significant and meaningful impact on students' academic performance and socio-cultural contexts. Additionally, it was found that various strategies (technological tools, social practices, individual efforts) are used to reduce anxiety, and effective materials (subtitled films, speaking clubs, books) play an essential role in alleviating it. This study strongly emphasizes the need to develop strategies for reducing language anxiety and providing more effective support for multilingual individuals in their learning processes.