Investigating Foreign Language Anxiety: A Constructivist Approach and Thematic Analysis among Graduate Students from Rural and Urban Areas of Pakistan

Abstract

People who are learning or using a foreign language frequently suffer foreign language anxiety (FLA), which shows up as tense and uneasy sensations in a variety of contexts, including social situations and classrooms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distinction between linguistic anxiety among Pakistani graduate students in both urban and rural places. One male and one female graduate student from both rural and urban locations were interviewed as part of a qualitative study approach. To find trends and themes, the interviews were coded, transcribed, and examined. Furthermore, the influence of these social elements was emphasized by the thematic analysis conducted under the study approach put forward by Braun and Clarke. The results show that societal, environmental, and educational factors interact in a complex way worsen FLA. Due to limited exposure, anxiety levels are higher among students in rural areas.