A Study on the Nature of Writing Apprehension among Saudi Undergraduate EFL Students

Mohammad H. Al-khresheh, Amr M. Mohamed, Rim Al Basheer Ben Ali

doi:10.32038/ltrq.2023.34.01

European KnowledgeDevelopment Institute

Original Research

A Study on the Nature of Writing Apprehension among Saudi Undergraduate EFL Students

Mohammad H. Al-khresheh

Amr M. Mohamed

Rim Al Basheer Ben Ali

Language Teaching Research Quarterly, Volume 34, Pages 1-18, https://doi.org/10.32038/ltrq.2023.34.01

Abstract
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Writing apprehension is an overwhelming feeling of stress and anxiety when writing in a foreign language. In the past ten years, it has been a hot topic of debate. Due to its influence on writing quality, this study aimed to investigate this topic among a group of university EFL students, measuring the level of this apprehension and identifying its main factors. To accomplish this objective, 137 Saudi EFL students were given a questionnaire containing 26 statements spanning four essential writing apprehension factors on a five-point Likert scale. The results indicated that Saudi EFL students generally received moderate writing apprehension. Negativity towards writing was the furthermost common factor of writing apprehension. Self-efficacy in writing was regarded as the least apprehensive factor compared to other writing apprehension factors. The potential causes of this apprehension in each factor were addressed. Statistically significant gender and university level differences were found favouring males and beginner university levels for negativity towards writing. Based on these findings, limitations and future study recommendations are suggested.

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Keywords

Apprehension; Saudi EFL Students; Self-Efficacy; Negativity and Positivity towards Writing; L2 Writing

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Author(s) Information

Mohammad H. Al-khresheh

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khresheh is an accomplished associate professor of applied linguistics with a strong background in research and teaching. He has an impressive track record of scholarly publications, demonstrating his expertise and contributions to the field. Additionally, he possesses extensive teaching experience, enabling him to effectively convey complex linguistic concepts and engage students in the learning process. His commitment to academic excellence and passion for advancing the field of applied linguistics make him a highly respected educator and researcher.

Amr M. Mohamed

Amr M. Mohamed is an Assistant Professor of Curriculum and EFL Instruction at Northern Border University's Applied College in Saudi Arabia. He obtained his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Ain Shams University in Egypt. His research interests include language education, curriculum development, and assessment, with a focus on EFL instruction. He has published several research articles in peer-reviewed journals and is actively involved in academic and professional development activities.

Rim Al Basheer Ben Ali

Dr. Rim received her PhD in Geberal and Applied Linguistics from the University of Sfax, Tunisia. She is interested in doing research in linguistics and language teaching. She is an English language teacher, with experience of seven years. She is dedicated to creating the ideal conditions for learners' success and committed to helping students achieve their goals.

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Conflict of Interests

No, there are no conflicting interests.

Open Access

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. You may view a copy of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/