speaking anxiety

The current study explored the effects of different feedback types on reducing Iranian test-takers’ speaking anxiety at the lower- and upper-intermediate levels. For this purpose, 90 male and female learners aged 21 to 45, who were preparing themselves to take the IELTS Mock test, were selected through a convenient sampling method and divided into lower-intermediate and upper-intermediate levels on the basis of the Oxford Placement Test (OPT) results. Then, they underwent ten treatment sessions of recast, explicit, metalinguistic, and clarification corrective feedback. To measure the anxiety in speaking performance, Chowdhury’s (2014) questionnaire was given to the participants once before treatment and once after the treatment. Then, the score of each learner was calculated and recorded for the data analysis. The obtained results revealed that there was a statistically significant difference among the feedback types regarding the participants’ speaking anxiety at the lower-intermediate as well as the upper-intermediate level. The implication of this finding is that teachers should constantly implement different types of corrective feedback in their classes to help students with their speaking anxiety problems.    

Speaking test anxiety is a pervasive challenge for adult English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, particularly in contexts where English proficiency is tied to academic and professional advancement. This empirical research study investigates the causes, contributing factors, and potential strategies to cope with speaking test anxiety among adult EFL learners in Saudi Arabia. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative survey data with qualitative interpretations to provide a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. Sixty-eight undergraduate male students, selected through purposive sampling method, participated in this research. The data were collected via standardized instruments (a modified FLCAS, and another survey instrument prepared by the researcher). Research findings reveal that cultural expectations, fear of negative evaluation, less frequency of speaking tests, and limited speaking practice contribute significantly to “the participants' speaking test” anxiety. The study bears significance in Saudi Arabian contexts as it identifies the causes of English speaking and test anxiety among adult learners and also suggests test-taking strategies to cope with test stress and related anxiety. The study concludes with pedagogical recommendations to mitigate anxiety and enhance speaking performance.