情感过滤假说在中国成人英语学习领域的实证分析_英语论文

An Empirical Analysis of Krashen’s Affective Filter Hypothesis in Adult English Language Learning in China

摘要

Krashen 的情感过滤假说从心理学的角度分析语言习得的机理和影响语言学习的因素。该假说认为, 大量的可理解的语言输入并不能表明学生就可以学好目标语言, 第二语言的进程还受很多情感因素的影响。他认为，情感因素起着对输入进行过滤的作用，而他将这些因素概括为“动机，自信心和焦虑”。该假说认为情感因素起着促进或阻碍语音习得的作用。

情感过滤假说自提出以来，就引起了海内外学者的不同反响。对于其提出的该假说有褒有贬。支持者认为该假说分析论证了在二语学习者在语言习得过程中的情感因素对语言的输入所起到阻碍或加速语言习得的过滤作用，对指导教学法有着巨大意义。质疑者认为Krashen没有能够发现能够真正支持其假说的理论依据。Krashen没有清楚解释情感过滤器如何起作用，在个体差异与情感过滤强弱有关方面也没能提供的令人信服的证据。

本文试图通过实例证明Krashen的情感过滤假说在中国成人英语学习领域是否成立。本论文主要运用定性及定量研究相结合的方式，以成人英语学习者为主要考察对象，通过大规模的实地调研及数据分析描述英语学习者的行为模式，以证明Krashen的情感过滤假说在中国成人英语学习领域是否成立，并对结果加以分析谈论。通过对证明英语学习中情感因素与学习行为的关系，促进成人英语培训行业提供更为优质的服务，以提高成人英语学习者的语言习得效率。

关键词：情感过滤；二语习得；克拉申

Abstract

Krashen's Affective Filter Hypothesis analyzes the mechanism of language acquisition and the factors that affect language learning. The hypothesis points out that a large amount of understandable language input does not mean that students can learn the target language well, and that second language acquisition is also affected by many emotional factors. In his opinion, emotional factors play vital roles in filtering the input process, and he summarizes these factors as "motivation, self-confidence and anxiety." 

Krashen's Affective Filter Hypothesis has aroused different reactions of scholars since it proposed. Supporters argue that this hypothesis analyzes and demonstrates that in the process of language acquisition, emotional factors impede or accelerate the filtering process of language learning, which in turn guides the evolution of teaching methodology in SLA. Others argue that Krashen has not been able to find the theoretical basis for the real support of his hypothesis. In their view, Krashen did not clearly explain how emotional filters worked, and there is no convincing evidence which proves that individual differences in language learning are related to emotional filtering.

This paper attempts to exam whether Krashen 's Affective Filter Hypothesis is applicable among Chinese adult English learners. Through large-scale field investigation and data analysis, this paper aims at probing whether Krashen's Affective Filter Hypothesis is applicable among Chinese adult English learners, with the ultimate purpose of promoting adult English teaching efficacy in China.

From the analysis, the author found that China's adult English learners’ learning outcomes were positively correlated with motivation and self-confidence factors, whereas at the same time negatively correlated with anxiety factor. Namely, Krashen's Affective Filter Hypothesis is applicable to the Chinese adult English learners.

Keywords: The Affective Filter Hypothesis; SLA; Krashen

Contents

Acknowledgements i

English Abstract ii

Chinese Abstract iii

Table of Contents iv

Chapter One Introduction 1

1.1 Research Background 1

1.2 Research Significance 1

1.3 The Structure of the Paper 2

Chapter Two Literature Review 2

2.1 The Affective Filter Hypothesis 2

2.2 Researches on Affective Filter Hypothesis 3

2.3 Present Researches on the Affective Filter Hypothesis in Chinese Adult English Learning 3

Chapter Three Research Methods 4

3.1 Participants 4

3.2 Research Methods 4

3.3 Research Tools 4

   3.3.1 Questionnaire 4

   3.3.2 Interviews 6

Chapter Four Results and Discussion 7

4.1 Motivation Factors 7

4.1.1 Description on Adult English Learning Motivation 7

4.1.2 Empirical Analysis of filtering process of motivation 8

4.2 Self-confidence and Language Learning Outcomes 10

4.3 Adult English Learners’ Anxiety 11

4.3.1 Description on Adult English Learners’ Anxiety 12

4.3.2  Empirical Analysis of filtering process of anxiety 12

Chapter Five Conclusion 13

5.1 Summary 13

5.2 Implications of the study 13

5.3 Suggestions for Further Study 13

References 14

Appendix 16