FLSA – Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety (Scale)
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What it is: A construct (and sometimes refers to a scale) used to measure anxiety learners feel when speaking a foreign language.
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Origin: Often associated with Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope (1986), who developed the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS). FLSA is a component of that.
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Focus: Measures anxiety related to speaking, such as fear of negative evaluation, communication apprehension, and test anxiety.
FLE – Foreign Language Enjoyment
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What it is: A positive emotional factor in language learning, proposed as a counterbalance to anxiety.
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Research context: Introduced in studies by Jean-Marc Dewaele and colleagues, who emphasized the importance of both negative and positive emotions in foreign language learning.
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Focus: Measures how much a learner enjoys the experience of learning and using a foreign language (e.g., classroom atmosphere, fun activities, support from teachers/peers).
MSLQ – Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire
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What it is: A widely-used instrument developed by Pintrich et al. (1991) to assess students' motivational orientations and use of learning strategies.
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Structure: Two major sections:
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Motivation (e.g., intrinsic/extrinsic goal orientation, task value, self-efficacy)
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Learning Strategies (e.g., cognitive/metacognitive strategies, time management, effort regulation)
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Use: Common in educational psychology and studies on learner autonomy, self-regulation, and motivation in both general and language learning contexts.
