The Effect of Second Life as a Virtual Language Learning Environment on Speaking Anxiety: Second Life and Anxiety

Introduction

Speaking as a productive language skill is an essential element in learning a foreign language context. However, it is mostly neglected during the language learning process due to its challenging nature (Nazara, 2011). In addition, speaking skill is generally not preferred since it is hard for teachers to assess learners while they are speaking (Egan, 1999). Instead of dealing with the challenging features of speaking skill, teachers simply prefer to focus more on structural aspects of language while teaching English (Bahrani & Solatani, 2012). Baleghizadeh and Shahri (2014) suggest that speaking is sustenance for other language skills and must be equally scattered in the language learning process. In addition, language learning includes the ability to communicate in the target language; thus, communicative objectives should be signified more effectively (Richards, 1983). Furthermore, Hu (2010) suggests that communicative competence is the main element in language learning. Grammatical and lexical competence that teachers focus on more can be achieved through speaking practice. However, both teachers and learners seem to be avoiding speaking during language learning by using only brief spoken patterns (Nazari, 2007). The reason for the avoidance to speak English can stem from some factors as follows: inability to appreciate the importance of communicative language learning/teaching, challenging nature of speaking, hardships faced during assessing speaking performance, lack of exact definitions concerning CLT and foreign language speaking anxiety (Aydin, 2013a; Egan, 1999; Guzel & Aydin 2014; Hu, 2010; Lochland, 2013; Nazari, 2007).

In the Turkish EFL context, the most common problems encountered during language learning are the issues that stem from the use of productive skills such as writing and speaking. As Subasi (2010) states, EFL learners encounter many oral challenges in EFL classes. For teachers, speaking is hard to assess and control and it is quite time-consuming in terms of preparing content for lessons. For learners, on the other hand, speaking is not desirable because it is challenging to express oneself in spoken form. Guzel and Aydin (2014) suggest that on the verge of oral performance, learners hesitate and feel anxious about speaking. Therefore, speaking is one of the most problematic areas in language learning in the Turkish EFL context. Thus, learners suffer from problems caused by speaking as a productive skill. One of the most common problems triggered by speaking skills is regarded as anxiety (Aydin, 2008; Guzel & Aydin, 2014; Dalkilic, 2001; Subasi, 2010). As Subasi (2010) suggests, learners endure many hardships during an oral performance such as sweatiness, shaking-knees, nervousness and loss of memory. Due to anxiety-related reasons, speaking performances decrease and is negatively affected. In other words, anxiety is a significant variable in language learning and language achievement is correlated with anxiety (Batumlu & Erden, 2007; Dalkilic, 2001). Anxiety-related problems such as nervousness, sweating, shaking knees and cognitive failures during oral performance can be related to factors such as lack of preparation, communication apprehension, test anxiety, teacher corrections, fear of negative evaluation and teacher questions (Aydin, 2008). Therefore, it can be deduced that anxiety is a fundamental problem that needs to be eliminated from language learning context in a moderate way. In this sense, spot-on alterations in the environment of language performance are considered by researchers and educators in a way that language-learning environments are diversified for learners who suffer from anxiety, especially the one caused by speaking.