Investigating Factors Responsible for English Speaking Anxiety among University Students

Abstract

Gaining skill in speaking English is still a challenge for many students, with anxiety emerging as a major hurdle. This work explores the reasons behind university students' anxiety while speaking English and looks for possible solutions to reduce this issue. This topic is important because nowadays the importance of English language skills has increased a lot, but many students fall victim to confusion while speaking this language. There has been a lot of research on English-speaking anxiety, but this topic has not been specifically explored in many universities. In this, a quantitative method was used, in which data was collected from 120 students through a questionnaire. In the key findings, it was found that students are most afraid of the fact that if their English is wrong, their classmates laugh, or the teachers correct it in front of everyone. Because of this, students feel hesitant in answering, trembling while talking, and a rapid heartbeat are all physical effects of anxiety. Students felt that others spoke English better than they did, which made them feel inferior. If the classroom atmosphere is friendly and students get more support, practice, and positive feedback, they can increase their confidence and may reduce their anxiety. Group activities, preparation, and teacher-student interaction can also impact this.