Factors affecting undergraduates' english language speaking anxiety

Abstract

The issue of Malaysian graduates not having effective speaking skill in English has become a distressing matter. It seems that speaking in English is a daunting task that many Malaysian graduates would avoid. This is due to the existence of second language anxiety that hinders these undergraduate learners from speaking in English. This study aims to determine the level of English language speaking anxiety among Malaysian undergraduate learners and the contributing factors that lead to this issue. The Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Scale (FLSAS) by (Balemir, 2009) was adapted and administered to measure the level of students’ speaking anxiety and a semi-structured interview was conducted to investigate the factors that contribute to English language speaking anxiety among Malaysian undergraduates. The findings of this study will benefit both undergraduates and educators to be more aware of the existence of English language speaking anxiety and to find appropriate strategies to curb this issue.