The Effect of Virtual Reality on EFL speaking Anxiety Among Palestinian Learners
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69867/الكلمات المفتاحية:
الواقع الافتراضي، اللغة الانجليزية كلغة أجنبية، القلق من تعلم اللغة الانجليزية داخل الفصول الدراسيةالملخص
This study investigated the effect of virtual reality (VR) on reducing English as a foreign language (EFL) speaking anxiety among Palestinian learners. Based on the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCA) framework, the study addressed a significant issue in Palestinian EFL classrooms: students’ frequent experience of high anxiety levels due to fear of negative evaluations, limited EFL speaking opportunities, and traditional teacher-centered practices. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with 183 females seventh- and eighth-grade students from a public school in Ramallah. The participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group that received VR-based instruction using a contextualized, 360-degree PAL-VR application, and a control group that received the same content through PowerPoint. Data were collected using a short-form FLCA questionnaire that was validated and administered before and after the intervention. ANCOVA results revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups after controlling for pre-test anxiety levels. However, quantitative trends indicated that the VR group showed slight reductions in key anxiety indicators, particularly physiological responses and nervousness when speaking. In contrast, the control group exhibited increased anxiety. These results suggest that, while short-term VR exposure alone may not significantly reduce deeply rooted speaking anxiety among Palestinian learners, VR has the potential to foster low-stress, supportive learning environments that promote comfort, confidence, and a willingness to communicate. This study underscores the necessity of longer interventions, culturally relevant VR tasks, and targeted teacher training to optimize VR’s capacity to reduce anxiety in EFL settings
التنزيلات
المراجع
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التنزيلات
منشور
إصدار
القسم
الرخصة
الحقوق الفكرية (c) 2026 Ahmad Mohammad Abhari (مؤلف)
هذا العمل مرخص بموجب Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
مجلة رابطة التربويين الفلسطينيين للآداب والدراسات التربوية والنفسية
الرقم الإلكتروني: 1941-2789
احتفاظ المؤلفين بحقوق الطبع والنشر
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