Mathematical Anxiety: The Perceptions of Senior High School Students

Abstract

Due to the skill needed in subjects related to Mathematics such as accuracy of thought and statement, a definite mental concept, connected thinking, fair memory, quickness to recognize the relation between forms and numbers, and power of generalization, Mathematics become harder to the students compared to the other subject. In the context of the Philippines, establishing the willingness and the eagerness of the student will be helpful in learning in this subject efficiently. Finding the factors that make the student fail in math will definitely prove to be of worth to the schools, administrators, and teachers. This qualitative research study aimed to distinguish the common reasons for the mathematical anxiety that the students of Saint Augustine School are experiencing. 17 student-participants were purposively selected based on the following criteria: (1) must be a grade 12 student, (2) must have a great lower than 85, (3) must consider himself/herself to be experiencing anxiety. The study made use of validated interview questions which aimed to gather the perceptions of the selected participants.The finding of the study shows that the average interest of the students is not too much high. They are more comfortable in providing example as well as the traditional formal of teaching, but as data say, providing example is already done by most of their teachers. Since the average interest of the respondent is not too much high, it may be the reason of failing of the student because interest builds the eagerness of the student in obtaining their goal and advancing academically. Improving their interest may improve also their on this subject. On the other hand the data also show that at some point there is nothing wrong on the approach of the teacher on them before because the data shows that the approach of the teacher is the comfortable zone of students. Interest indeed necessitates passion to learn and aspiration to achieve the highest potential. In line with this, it can be noted that if the teachers will not do anything to arouse the interest of the students then the possibility of not learning is not far fetched. The result of the study is in line with what Krashen (1982) also stated that with high affective filter, acquisition of concepts will not be possible. With this in mind, the school, teachers, and administration should consider crafting ways on how Math can become engaging and encouraging to students.