English-Use Anxiety in Israeli College Libraries

摘要: Abstract In high-tech, highly educated small language communities, college students are often dependent on non-native material, usually English, for their studies and research. a study of library anxiety among Israeli students, applying English skills the specific purpose computerized searches in an academic environment was found to be single most debilitating factor. This result proved consistent regardless student's age, gender, year or native language. Introduction Library first described systematically studied by Constance Mellon (1986), later defined as uncomfortable feeling emotional disposition characterized tension, fear, sense uncertainty helplessness, negative self-defeating thoughts, mental disorganization that appear only when contemplating visit (Jiao & others, 1996). 1992, Sharon Bostick developed Anxiety Scale, which has proven its reliability several quantitative (Bostick, 1992; Jiao 1996; Onwuegbuzie, 1997). Many discussions have been published difficulties English-speaking encounter while studying at American universities using libraries (Wayman, 1984; Ball Mahoney, 1987; Macdonald Sarkodie-Mensah, 1988; Allen, 1993; 1997; Zoe DiMartino, Onwuegbuzie Jiao, Liu Redfern, (1998) state even "bibliographic instruction courses do not reduce levels speaking students" (p.245). presents inversion this problem own cultural environment, is language, librarians staff speak Hebrew, yet required conduct use material foreign All B.Ed. must display minimum level proficiency before being accepted into program, continue until showing sufficient ability bachelor's degree level. But apply search they self-confidence necessary fully profit from these resources, does cause affective handicap? The measure investigate possible relationship between computer attitudes. Among factors investigated 'English factor;' discomfort caused performing resources materials. sample population consisted 664 eight teachers colleges throughout Israel. average age 25.94 years, 88% were female. Hebrew all institutions study. Of 654 who answered question about 82% reported 12% Arabic, 1% 5% other. roughly parallels national ethnicity Israel, reports total consisting 80% Jews, 18% Arabs, 2% Instruments To anxiety, Bostick's Scale (1992) translated modified reflect differences. As Hebrew-Library (H-LAS), it contained 35 Likert-type statements categorized seven factors. These include: * Staff: students' attitudes toward perceived accessibility Knowledge: How rate expertise Language: extent materials present Physical comfort: much physical facility affects enjoyment facilities quality directions them policies/hours: regulations operating hours Resources: availability desired collection tested adequate scores Cronbach's alpha except policies/hours factor, retained additional checks because theoretical importance anxiety. …