A mixed methods study of the effect of multilingualism on learning English as a third language: Focus on foreign language anxiety and enjoyment

Document Type : مقالات علمی پژوهشی

Author
Department of English language and Linguistics, University of Kurdistan
Abstract
The present research aimed to investigate the effect of multilingualism on learning English as a third language, focusing on foreign language anxiety (FLA) and foreign language enjoyment (FLE). A sample of 353 Iranian bilingual and multilingual EFL learners participated in the study by completing self-report scales measuring FLA and FLE. As for the qualitative phase, a number of 15 EFL learners took part in semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that multilingual participants reported lower levels of FLA and higher levels of FLE than their bilingual counterparts. The results of the qualitative data also supported the findings of quantitative phase, suggesting that multilingualism can have a substantial impact on reducing FLA and enhancing FLE when learning a foreign language. The study highlights the potential benefits of multilingualism for language learners and might have significant implications for theory and practice.

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