The objective of this thesis is to examine the correlation between Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) in the context of using business English at work and job satisfaction amongst non-native speakers of English, particularly in view of their professional self-actualization.
In this study, FLA was measured by using the FLA-FS scale developed by Gargalianou et al. (2016). Job satisfaction was measured on the scale developed by Fischer & Lück (1972). Sociodemographic data was taken into consideration as well. The results reveal a low negative correlation between FLA and job satisfaction (r = -.39) and a low negative correlation between FLA and self-actualization in the workplace (r = -.40), which means the higher the anxiety scores on the FLA scale, the lower the job satisfaction and professional self-actualization. Moreover, there is a strong positive correlation between FLA and the individual proficiency level of English (r = .70), which means that FLA affects mainly, but not solely, beginners of English.
Given the results and the impact of FLA on the psychological and physical well-being of employees, multinational organizations which have adopted business English as lingua franca must be able to detect behavioral and non-behavioral signs of FLA and implement measures to combat the negative effects on their workforce. As there have been no studies on this topic yet conducted, this thesis strives to close the gap in research.
Further large-scale research on the correlation of FLA and job satisfaction would be necessary to determine in-depth findings and pull significant business-psychological insights.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Definitions
2.1 Business English as lingua franca (BELF)
2.2 Foreign Language Anxiety
2.3 Job satisfaction
3 Current state of research
3.1 Effects of FLA
3.2 FLA and job satisfaction
4 Preliminary conclusion and research gap
5 Hypothesis
6 Methodology
6.1 Measuring instruments
6.1.1 Frequency of use of English at work
6.1.2 Personal English skills
6.1.3 Current job position
6.1.4 FLA in Formal Settings scale (FLA-FS)
6.1.5 Job satisfaction
6.2 Conduct of the Study
6.3 Selection of sample
6.4 Data evaluation
7 Results
7.1 Descriptive statistics
7.1.1 Statistical evaluation
7.1.2 Analysis of variance
7.2 Correlation analysis
8 Discussion
8.1 Summary
8.2 Practical significance
8.3 Limitations and recommendations for further research
9 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis examines the correlation between Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) arising from the use of Business English as a Lingua Franca (BELF) and the job satisfaction of non-native speaking employees, aiming to determine whether language-induced anxiety hinders professional self-actualization and overall job satisfaction in multinational organizations.
- Impact of Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) on non-native speakers in international business settings.
- The influence of English proficiency levels on psychological well-being and communication behavior.
- Correlation between language-induced anxiety, professional self-actualization, and job satisfaction.
- Role of organizational leadership and psychological safety in mitigating the effects of language barriers.
- Practical strategies for human resources to support non-native employees in multinational teams.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Effects of FLA
FLA can be assigned to situation-specific reactions of fear. These arise in the amygdala, which is part of the human brain and limbic system and responsible for processing anxiety. By increasing adrenaline production, which is apparent in the form of sweat, a dry mouth, or an increased heart rate, it prepares the body for fight or flight (Aichhorn & Puck, 2017; Davis, 1992). On an emotional level, FLA triggers self-directed feelings of embarrassment and shame about one’s own language skills and rhetoric competences, which bring about a mental blockage in communication and cause people to isolate and keep their feelings to themselves (Lammers, 2020).
This is further exacerbated by the fact that lingua franca speakers feel particularly insecure when they are required to speak in face-to-face situations (Cheng, Horwitz & Schallert, 1999). The feelings of shame also inhibit people's willingness to open up to other team members, making it difficult to form trusting relationships (Mauranen & Ranta, 2009; Piekkari, Welch & Welch, 1997; Hinds, Neeley & Cramton, 2014; Tenze, Terjesen & Harzing, 2016; Dunn & Schweitzer, 2005). Furthermore, FLA leads to an excessive self-consciousness and promotes fear of being judged negatively by others. The individual’s attention cannot be adequately directed towards his or her work, which impairs the cognitive performance (Eysenck, 1979). Due to the lack of confidence about one’s own personal ability to succeed (Campbell, 1990), and to prevent further diminishment of the self-esteem, any task-related effort are withheld. In addition, people find it difficult to express themselves in English as they cannot use the same rhetorical skills which they would normally apply in their mother tongue, which results in lower self-esteem (Tenzer & Pudelko, 2015).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter highlights the prevalence of English as a global business language and identifies the potential for language to act as a barrier, causing anxiety and negatively impacting employee well-being and job satisfaction.
2 Definitions: This section defines key concepts central to the thesis, specifically Business English as a Lingua Franca (BELF), Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA), and the psychological construct of job satisfaction.
3 Current state of research: This section reviews existing literature on the effects of FLA and its relationship with job satisfaction, noting a significant gap in empirical data within business contexts.
4 Preliminary conclusion and research gap: The chapter summarizes how language-induced anxiety harms psychological safety and teamwork, establishing the necessity for the current empirical study.
5 Hypothesis: This chapter outlines the study's objectives and states two main hypotheses predicting negative correlations between FLA, job satisfaction, and professional self-actualization.
6 Methodology: This chapter details the research design, including the use of the FLA-FS scale and a job satisfaction survey conducted among 104 individuals in multinational organizations.
7 Results: This section presents the statistical evaluation of the survey data, providing descriptive statistics and revealing analytical results concerning correlations between FLA and job satisfaction.
8 Discussion: The results are interpreted here, offering practical managerial recommendations for creating a psychologically safe communication climate in multinational companies.
9 Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the findings, confirming that FLA negatively impacts job satisfaction and self-actualization, and suggests areas for future large-scale research.
Keywords
Business English as Lingua Franca, BELF, Foreign Language Anxiety, FLA, Job Satisfaction, Professional Self-actualization, Psychological Safety, Non-native speakers, Multinational Organizations, Communication Barriers, Workplace Psychology, FLA-FS scale, Language Proficiency, Employee Well-being, Quantitative Study
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
This research primarily investigates the correlation between Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) caused by the use of Business English as a Lingua Franca (BELF) and the job satisfaction of non-native English speaking employees in multinational organizations.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers the psychological impact of language barriers, the role of professional self-actualization, the influence of English proficiency, and the creation of psychologically safe communication climates within global business teams.
What is the primary goal of the study?
The primary goal is to empirically determine if a negative correlation exists between FLA and job satisfaction, and whether FLA hinders an employee's professional self-actualization.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The researcher conducted a quantitative study using a questionnaire that included the "FLA in Formal Settings" (FLA-FS) scale and a job satisfaction survey, statistically analyzed through JASP using Spearman's correlation and ANOVA.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body reviews existing literature on language anxiety and job satisfaction, designs and conducts an empirical study, analyzes the resulting data, and discusses practical organizational implications.
Which keywords characterize this thesis?
Key terms include Business English as Lingua Franca (BELF), Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA), Job Satisfaction, Professional Self-actualization, Psychological Safety, and Workplace Psychology.
Did the study find that beginner-level English speakers are the only ones affected by FLA?
No, while the study confirmed that beginners show higher anxiety scores, it also demonstrated that FLA affects employees with advanced or fluent English skills due to fears of negative evaluation by colleagues.
What role does psychological safety play in the context of this study?
Psychological safety is identified as a critical foundation for a healthy work climate; the study argues that acknowledging and mitigating FLA is essential for team leaders to build such an environment.
- Citation du texte
- Sarah Capozza (Auteur), 2022, The Correlation of Business English as Lingua Franca and the Job Satisfaction of Non-native Speakers of English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1334615
