The Perception of Failure in Language Learning - challenges faced by students of foreign business languages and the attributions to failure
Abstract
The key psychological factors affecting the success of language learning include convictions about language learning and the success and failure attributions belonging to the motivational dimension of convictions. How casual attributions to
success and failure are made has a significant impact on the language learner’s self-esteem and motivation, and it may determine further language learning experiences and outcomes. The paper presents the findings of empirical research conducted with university students and attempts to explore the perceptions of challenges faced by language learners and their attributions to failure. A total of 141 students participated in the research and reported on their personal difficulties and failures as well as the reasons that they attribute to the challenges they faced. The findings show that the highest number of failure experiences can be related to verbal communication, to self-expression or to the expression of opinions on professional topics and they derive from the lack of foreign language confidence and from the fear to commit mistakes. An analysis of failure attributions reveals that language learners attribute largely to affective factors for their failure, while showing a tendency to blame factors that are less controllable and more open to chance.
factors that are less controllable and more open to chance.
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