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Foreign Language Anxiety in Professional Contexts

Author

Listed:
  • Vasiliki Gargalianou

    (UNICEF Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO))

  • Katrin Muehlfeld

    (Trier University
    Utrecht University)

  • Diemo Urbig

    (University of Wuppertal)

  • Arjen van Witteloostuijn

    (Tilburg University
    Antwerp University
    Cardiff University)

Abstract

While increasing globalization of the business world and rising numbers of people working in foreign language contexts are undoubted facts of modern work life, there are surprisingly few studies on individuals’ emotional reactions to working in a foreign language. Facilitating further research, we introduce a short scale for foreign language anxiety that is applicable in business and other professional contexts. Additionally, we investigate its relationship with gender and general personality traits. Our analysis of survey data from 320 adult bilinguals with Dutch as their mother tongue and English as foreign language demonstrates the reliability of the short scale. Furthermore, we find that females experience higher levels of FLA, but that this association is mediated by differences in personality. Our study contributes to the emerging literature on individuals’ (emotional) responses to using foreign languages in business contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Vasiliki Gargalianou & Katrin Muehlfeld & Diemo Urbig & Arjen van Witteloostuijn, 2016. "Foreign Language Anxiety in Professional Contexts," Schmalenbach Business Review, Springer;Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft, vol. 17(2), pages 195-223, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:schmbr:v:17:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s41464-016-0007-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s41464-016-0007-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Müller, Julia & Schwieren, Christiane, 2012. "Can personality explain what is underlying women’s unwillingness to compete?," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 448-460.
    2. Tsedal B. Neeley, 2013. "Language Matters: Status Loss and Achieved Status Distinctions in Global Organizations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 476-497, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Jie & Zhao, Yue & Han, Xue, 2020. "Would you work abroad? The effect of English proficiency on Chinese employees’ willingness to accept international assignments," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International management; Foreign language anxiety; Gender; Personality; Survey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M00 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - General - - - General
    • M16 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - International Business Administration
    • Z19 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Other

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