1.lecture. anxiety in language 2017

Anxiety in Language Classroom

Zafar Ullah

zafarullah76@gmail.com

Layout of Class

i. Introductionii.Significance, definitions, symptomsiii.Causes of Anxietyiv.Anxiety Treatment strategiesv.Emotional Intelligencevi.Call for Actionvii.Question Answers

2

Definitions, Symptoms, Background, Significance

3

Is Anxiety Good or Bad?

4

Significance• Academic/Social Success Skill/soft skill• Mental health Council• SAC• Why Boys Fail in College?• Social silent murder• Class difference, exploitation• Save one kid, one life, one body, one soul,

One family, one nation, save humanity5

Facts about Anxiety• Anxiety causes behavioural problems• 1 of 5 children are victims of anxiety• Girls are affected more than boys. • Anxiety disorders may coexist with physical

health conditions.• Bad effects on emotional state of children.• Linguistic problems.• Learning problems • Lack of concentration

6

Definitions of Anxiety• Larson et al. (2010) describe anxiety as an anticipated belief of a

psychological distress which is a result of a perception of a potentially dangerous event.

• Anxiety is a general feeling of apprehension or worry and is a normal

reaction to stressful situations.

• Foreign language anxiety: a distinct complex of self-perceptions, beliefs,

feelings and behaviours related to classroom learning.

7

Symptoms of Anxiety

8

Anxiety

Cognitive Cognitive Affective Affective Worry and negative thoughts e.g. what would they think of

me if I fail

Physiological and emotional reactions.

E.g. fear, sweaty palms, upset

stomach9

Types of Anxiety Disorders• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) • Separation Anxiety Disorder• Panic Disorder• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder• Academic Anxiety• Specific Phobias• Natural Anxiety• Social Anxiety

10

Brain Chemicals: Serotonin (happiness chemical) Dopamine (pain killer) Norepinephrine (helps to deal with stress)

11

Impact of Anxiety on Brain• Chronic Stress can damage brain structure and

connectivity.• It triggers changes in brain structure.• Hippocampus encodes threatening events into

memories.• Anxiety changes size and connectivity of the amygdala.• Hydrocephalus

12

Clark’s cognitive Model of Panic Disorder

13

Causes of Anxiety

14

Causes of Anxiety in ESL Teachers

• Lack of Confidence• Non preparation of lecture/lesson• Domestic issues• Financial issues• Anxiety of Infrastructure• Noisy environment• Technology failure

15

Cont…

• Over crowded class• Continuous observation• Lack of professional training, ELT• Stressful administration• Over work

16

Causes of Anxiety in ESL Learners

School PhobiaCommunication apprehensionTest anxiety/ Exam phobiaError analysis AnxietyThrashing fearAbusive languageMethodological Problems

17

Cont…

Speaking the target language in front of peers.Teacher-centered classroom.Mixed IQ level students in one class.Favouritism Excessive homeworkGaps in studiesNot familiar with basic previous concepts

18

Anxiety Treatment Strategies

19

Steps to Address the Anxiety Issue

1. Identify the anxious feelings of students; Identify which situations made students

anxious; 2. Treatment: Provide students with

strategies to manage anxiety;3. Feedback

20

Emotional Intelligence (EI); EQ

21

How to React? Which one is Correct?

FAT STARF= Feel S= StopA= Act T= ThinkT= Think A= Act wiselyEmotional hijacking

R= Reap the reward

22

Six Seconds Models for Emotional Intelligence

23

Cont…

• 90/10 Principle• 6 second gap strategy• Islamic principles (stand, sit, lay)

24

Wilson’s (1999) Strategies to Decrease Anxiety in Classroom

• Open book test; • Instructor’s positive attitude, encouragement; • Reassurance that We Can Do It!; • Recognition of anxiety of students; • Teach students to cope with disability.• Use of humour in the classroom; • Guidelines provided for better grades;

25

Cont…

• Working with a partner in class assignments and research project• Support of peers during class• Assign a research project to give information

about one’s own; • Teaching situation for learners; (Wilson, 1999)• Act according to desired future profession/

career.

26

Tips to Control Anxiety in Classroom1. Keep Communication Open2. Flexible Assignments3. Teach Time Management4. Grade Effort As Well As Product5. Offer Five-Minute Meditation, long breathing,

muscle relaxation6. Help Them To See The Bigger and Positive

Picture/ vision (First Year at Harrow) Optimism27

Cont…

7. Activate students with activities8. Attitude is altitude.9. Offer Incentives For Bringing Healthy Food To

Class10. Use music, songs for teaching.11. Teach how to avoid failure12. Balanced Exams13. Comfortable infrastructure, seats

28

Cont…

21.Teacher should be friendly but not friend.

22. Be Super Teacher/ Parent22. Positive self-talk(Francesco et al., 2009)

i. Listen apprehensions, evaluateii. Stop listening bad thoughtsiii. Change channel

29

Cont…

23.Encourage your child to face his/her fears, not run away from them

24.Imperfection is OK. Nobody is perfect.25.Focus on the positives.26.Choose career according to aptitude27.Self-care, and positive thinking.28.Reward your student's brave behaviours.29.Help your child to problem solve.

30

How to Make ESL Lessons Anxiety Free?

• Involve students in lessons.• Students are good actors.• Use of songs in ESL.• Use of rhymes.• Use of videoshttp://www.edudemic.com/best-video-sites-for-

teachers/• Jokes for reading skill. http://www.greatcleanjokes.com/

31

Cont…

• Cartoons or pictures• Visual learning.• Tongue twistershttp://www.funenglishgames.com• Comic Strips (Political Cartoons)www.gocomics.comColumnist Dave Barry’s comedywww.miamiherald.com

32

Cont…

• Funny images• www.neuegraphic.com• Talk about dinosaurs• Use tv shows, dramas, films as language

teaching source• Spellings with drawings• Funny dubbing

33

Cont…

• Funny material for ESLhttp://www.havefunteaching.com• Funny imageshttp://www.newimagesgallery.comPicture description activities

34

Call for Action

• Bring positive changes.• Change yourself and all things will change.

• Implement new things• Awaken giant within you.

35

Thank You