Investigating EFL Learning Students’ Strategy Use to Lower Exam Anxiety and Its Impact on Their Results.

Abstract

In the process of learning a foreign language, test anxiety is a significant problem among EFL learners which is frequently accompanied by a decline in exams’ performance. The present dissertation aims to examine the influence of learning strategies, studying effectively and keep positive self-talk that help EFL learners to cope with exam anxiety and it will be beneficial to enhance their performance. To reach this end, a case study research was conducted at the Department of Foreign Languages at Abdelhafid Boussouf, Mila University Center. We hypothesize that if EFL learners used appropriate learning strategies, in the period of exams, they would help them to reduce exam anxiety as well as enhance their exam results. The findings indicate that Third Year students experienced a certain level of anxiety, especially before exams and it can be considered as an obstacle that disrupts their results. Additionally, the data collected were analyzed quantitatively, relying on a questionnaire for a sample of 80 Third Year EFL learners. In this regard, learning strategies applied by the majority of students may positively influence their exam results. For the latter, some recommendations are offered to teachers and students to raise their awareness of learning strategies use to reduce anxiety and its negative impacts on exam performance.