The Influence of English Learning Anxiety on EFL Learners (A Case Study at SMA Negeri 4 Surakarta in Academic Year 2016/2017)

ABSTRACT Fatin Fauziyyah Rahma Cita. K2213025. THE INFLUENCE OF ENGLISH LEARNING ANXIETY ON EFL LEARNERS (A DESCRIPTIVE QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY AT SMA NEGERI 4 SURAKARTA IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2016/2017). Thesis, Surakarta: Teacher Training and Education Faculty, Sebelas Maret University, August 2017. This research is aimed at (1) investigating the factors underlying students’ anxiety in EFL learning; and (2) finding out the influence of learning anxiety on students’ behavior in EFL classroom. This research uses qualitative case study method. The research was carried out in April to May 2017 in SMA Negeri 4 Surakarta which is located at Jl. Adi Sucipto No. 1 Surakarta. The sources of the data were events and informants. The data were collected through observation, interview, and questionnaire. The performance of EFL learners were observed and noted. The data were analyzed using interactive model of qualitative data analysis technique which includes data reduction, data display, and drawing conclusion. Based on the observation, in-depth interview, and questionnaires, it can be concluded that: (1) the factors underlying students’ anxiety in EFL learning were categorized into three, namely a) linguistic factors, b) task anxiety, and c) interpersonal relationship in the classroom. (2) The influence of the learning anxiety on students’ behavior appeared in various ways such as nervousness, odd gestures, reluctance in speaking, ignorance of the learning tasks, complaints about the materials, reluctance in joining the teacher’s activity, and intention to skip the class. The learning anxiety can affect students’ behavior in any manner due to the different characteristics of them. A certain amount of anxiety can be beneficial to students because it gives alert to them to be aware of their learning tasks. On the contrary, too much of it hindered the learners from achieving a successful learning since they are afraid to try. However, a balance in learning is needed. Thus, the learning anxiety should be well maintained in order to reduce the negative effects on students so that the benefits of it can be maximized by being cautious of students’ psychological factors and feelings. Keywords: language learning, foreign language anxiety, learning anxiet