Macintyre's Theory Of State Anxiety

State anxiety refers to the moment-to-moment experience of anxiety that varies in strength and fluctuates over time (MacIntyre, 1999). It is consciously perceived feelings at a particular moment in time (Speilberger, 1983). MacIntyre (1999) suggests the usefulness of discussing trait and situation specific anxieties, which can be used to inspect the character of a person who will most likely experience state anxiety. This allows the expectation of negative consequences of anxiety arousal, such as physical symptoms, worry, and unpleasant emotions. Whether state anxiety is caused by trying to communicate in a second language or reading in a foreign language, it is fundamentally the same experience. A person who shows high levels of trait anxiety