AN INVESTIGATION INTO CHINESE WRITING ANXIETY, SELF-EFFICACY, AND PERFORMANCE AMONG CHINESE AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (CFL) STUDENTS AT A THAI UNIVERSITY

Fang Yuan

Authors

Fang Yuan School of Sinology, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100 Thailand

Keywords:

CFL writing anxiety, self-writing efficacy, writing performance

Abstract

Writing in Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) represents a multifaceted cognitive endeavor that is frequently obstructed by significant affective factors. Because the mastery of Chinese characters and grammar requires intense mental processing, understanding the complex interplay between psychological barriers and learner confidence is essential for improving writing outcomes. However, the specific mechanisms linking affective barriers to CFL learner confidence in the Thai context remain underexplored. To address this gap, this study investigated the correlations among writing anxiety, self-efficacy, and actual writing performance to identify primary anxiety sources and determine how distinct efficacy constructs correlate with exam results. A quantitative research design was employed involving 90 undergraduate students at a Thai university. The study assessed levels of writing anxiety, multidimensional self-efficacy (performance, language, and self-regulated), and writing performance through statistical correlation analysis. The findings revealed that participants experienced moderate to high levels of anxiety, with somatic symptoms presenting as the most severe manifestation. Primary triggers included the fear of character errors, vocabulary limitations, and pressure regarding grammatical perfectionism. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant negative correlations between writing anxiety and both exam scores and self-efficacy, whereas writing performance showed strong positive associations with all efficacy constructs, particularly language efficacy. These findings highlight the detrimental impact of anxiety on writing outcomes. Beyond these correlations, results indicated a critical paradox where high self-regulatory efficacy coexisted with high somatic anxiety, suggesting that the cognitive load of character retrieval under time constraints overrides the protective effects of self-regulation. The study concludes by proposing a 'Cognitive-Affective Scaffolding Framework' to mitigate these specific stressors.

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