Way to Go! Effects of Motivational Support and Agents on Reducing Foreign Language Anxiety

摘要

Using a tutoring system for English as a foreign language, we studied the impact on students' anxiety levels of an animated agent that provides motivational, supportive feedback. We compared two types of feedback - explanatory and motivational supportive feedback - presented in three ways: by text, by voice, or by a character agent. Results showed that using an agent that gives motivational, supportive feedback decreases the learners' anxiety levels overall. We also found that performance and gender interact with the effectiveness of the treatment for reducing foreign language anxiety (FLA). Our findings have implications for promoting equity and determining how best to improve positive emotions and reduce anxiety for all students.