This dissertation focuses on interpreting the impacts of foreign language anxiety and individual characteristics on the achievement expectations of Chinese second-language learners and English second-language students at the university level. Four research questions are examined through quantitative design. In relation to methodology, this study utilizes a factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA), logistic regression, and ?[superscript 2] as the statistical methods; in addition, the latest version of Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) is used to analyze the data. This study provides current and future second-language educators and administrators who plan to set up second-language programs with a broad idea of the extent to which foreign language anxiety, personal characteristics, and cultural differences influence the adult learners' achievement expectations in university sponsored second-language programs. This study also outlines the differences between non-Western and Western adult learners and the impact cultural factors have on the adult learners' level of foreign language anxiety. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]