English Language Center (ELC) lecturers led by Mr. Behnam Behforouz, together with Ms. Marilyn Gallema, Ms. Rhona Waga and ELC Head Mr. Saif Al Weshahi published a research article entitled ‘English Language Learning Anxiety in Online and Face-to-Face Classes’ in Journal of Asia TEFL, Indexed Scopus, Vol. 19, No. 2, Summer, 2022.

Said journal was ranked 240 out of 1103 journals making it under Q1 which contains the top 25% of journals in the list.

The study was conducted last AY 2021-2022 and it involved 80 Omani EFL learners studying under the General Foundation Program (GFP).

 Participants were asked about their experience of anxiety in face-to-face and online learning and sought to analyze whether there were significant differences between male and female learners’ experiences of anxiety levels.

The study provided useful insights into how educators could deploy effective strategies to lessen learners’ foreign language anxiety such as enriching computer-based communication competency, peer support and greater learner autonomy, as well as helped raise awareness on foreign language anxiety and its symptoms.