Australian Anxiety

This report describes instructional strategies to decrease anxiety and frustration in the Spanish classroom. Participants were five 7th grade Spanish classes in two suburban middle schools. Student interventions included a study skills guide; partner and group presentations, skits, and activities; and group oral reading. Teacher interventions included the use of total physical response, authentic correction, and creation of a nonthreatening classroom environment. Anxiety and frustration were documented through direct observations by teachers, the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale, and student questionnaires and interviews. Analysis of probable cause data was documented through a review of literature and methods of assessment by the researchers. Results indicated that several activities caused foreign language anxiety (oral communication, writing, and reading in the target language). Posttest data indicated a decrease in anxiety and frustration at both schools. Students were able to identify their ow