Contradictions in Writing Anxiety: A Qualitative Case Study of Expansive Learning among Iranian EFL Learners

Journal of Language and Translation

مقاله 3، دوره 9، شماره 1، فروردین 2019، صفحه 33-49   

نوع مقاله: Research Articles

نویسندگان

Mohsen Nazari¹؛ Maryam Farnia^{* 2}؛ Behzad ghonsooly³؛ Manoochehr Jafarigohar⁴

¹PhD Candidate, Department of English Language and Literature, Payameh Noor University, Iran

²Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics, Department of English Language and Literature, Payameh Noor University, Iran

³Professor of Applied Linguistics, Department of English Language and Literature, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

⁴Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, Department of English Language and Literature, Payameh Noor University, Iran

چکیده

This qualitative study aimed at exploring the causes of writing anxiety from an expansive learning perspec- tive. Given the centrality of writing for both EFL learners and teachers, writing anxiety was explored through a longitudinal study spanning two years with 25 EFL learners and teachers who participated by providing comments, diaries, and documents. The participants were also observed and interviewed follow- ing Mwanza's model as a guide. The obtained data in the whole process was constantly thematized by means of a qualitative software, NVIVO 10. The main themes on writing anxiety were extracted from teachers and learners by applying contradictions as a principle of expansive learning theory. To help learn- ers become transformative agents of anxiety, an intervention process was carried out in the form of an online collaborative writing task. The findings recommend applying contradictions as an initiative point for problem-solving and a driving impellent of activity which may lead to expansive learning. Besides, the dy- namic and developmental process is hoped to help learners expand and transform their writing anxiety. Con- tradictions may also become an initiation for future studies on language learning.

کلیدواژه‌ها

Activity Theory؛ Contradictions؛ EFL learners؛ Expansive Learning؛ Writing Anxiety

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