Anxiety and Enjoyment in English Classes for Non-English Major College Students: Degree, Causes and Correlations

Abstract

Because of globalization and the internationalization of higher education, English ability has become an important dimension of the core literacy of non-English major college students. However, most existing studies focused on the negative impacts of anxiety, neglecting the synergistic effects of positive emotions, especially lacking localized exploration of the two emotional states of anxiety and enjoyment. This study adopted the literature review method, aiming to explore the degree, causes and correlation between anxiety and enjoyment in English classes among non-English major college students. Research has found that students generally have moderately high levels of anxiety and also experience a certain degree of enjoyment. The two showed a significant negative correlation, but their interaction exhibited complex dynamics. The causes covered multiple dimensions such as individuals, interpersonal relationships and the environment. This study explored the degree, causes and correlations of anxiety and enjoyment in English classes among non-English major college students, demonstrating the complexity of emotions in English learning. By revealing the interaction mechanism between anxiety and enjoyment in the English classroom of non-English major college students, this study broadened the theoretical perspective of foreign language learning emotion research and provided implications for emotional regulation and the construction of a positive classroom atmosphere in college English teaching.