An Exploration of Master One EFL Students’ Anxiety in Post COVID-19 Period at the University of Tlemcen

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the world, including the way of learning and communicating. One area that has been particularly affected is language anxiety in education, as students and teachers had to adapt to new modes of instruction and communication. As a result, many learners have experienced heightened levels of anxiety in their target language. This dissertation explores the issue of anxiety among Master One students in the Department of English in the post-COVID-19 period. The study aims to understand the causes, symptoms, effects, and solutions to overcome anxiety in order to provide insights for effective support. For this purpose, an exploratory case study included 27 Master One students of four majors in the English department at the University of Tlemcen (Algeria). Two research instruments were used to cross-check the gathered data (a questionnaire for students and an interview for teachers). Qualitative and Quantitative analyses of data revealed that Poor time management is a major cause of students’ high anxiety in the post-COVID-19 period. It was also found that personal diligence, improvement of study skills, and support from the social and pedagogical environment are good solutions to overcome anxiety. To conclude, this work brings attention to the notable problem of anxiety among Master One EFL students during the post-COVID-19 period. The research underscores the extensive impacts of the pandemic on students' mental well-being and academic experiences.