Adaptive and Maladaptive Functions of Language Anxiety

The dissertation is devoted to the study of the problem of foreign language anxiety and its adaptive and maladaptive functions. Within the framework of this work foreign language anxiety is considered as a feeling of fear, tension and anxiety caused by the feeling or expectation of negative events related to learning a foreign language. Given that most scientists define language anxiety as a purely negative phenomenon, the study of the adaptive functions of language anxiety seems to be an important step in research in this area. An empirical study involving 115 people aged 15 to 50 years demonstrated that one of the types of language anxiety – communicative anxiety – has a greater impact on academic performance and the process of learning and using a foreign language. Students with language anxiety experience more negative affect and less positive affect in the classroom. At the same time, it was found that grit is able to neutralize the effects of language anxiety, and also serves as a mediator in the relationship between language anxiety and academic performance.