The effect of Anxiety on Listening Comprehension in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learners

Abstract

Anxiety in EFL learners significantly impairs listening comprehension by increasing cognitive load, disrupting attention, and creating performance pressure. To mitigate these effects, strategies such as fostering a supportive learning environment, gradually increasing task difficulty, teaching relaxation techniques, promoting regular practice, and offering targeted listening strategy training are essential. Listening is the skill used the most in daily life. People listen to audio for several reasons, including for their amusement, to acquire information that is valuable to them. When learners seek to comprehend what they are taught in English. They display a wide variety of hearing impairments. Addressing anxiety is crucial for improving listening skills and overall language proficiency, leading to better educational outcomes for EFL learners. This research explores the relationship anxiety and listening comprehension, drawing on relevant literature and presenting empirical findings from a study conducted among elementary EFL learners. This study examines the extent to which anxiety affects listening performance and suggests strategies to mitigate its negative impact.