Can you teach me to speak? Oral practice and anxiety in a language MOOC

Abstract

The present chapter examines learners’ beliefs and attitudes with regard to speaking in a learning environment that is neither formal nor informal. The main research question is whether learners perceive Massive Open Online Language Courses (LMOOCs) as a completely informal context that is free of anxiety or rather as a virtual classroom where Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLA) (Horowitz et al., 1986) is present. Data was obtained from over 200 beginner learners on self-reflective questionnaires and forum discussions. Results indicate that learners have a positive attitude towards language learning on LMOOCs, but FLA is present in this asynchronous speaking environment too and needs to be addressed by the course instructors.