Investigating levels, factors, and coping strategies for speaking anxiety
List of Authors
  • Noor Hanim Rahmat , Nursuhaila Ibrahim

Keyword
  • English Speaking Anxiety, Engineering Students, Levels, Factors, Coping Strategies

Abstract
  • Malaysian undergraduates often face challenges in English proficiency despite learning the language from primary school. Feeling worried or anxious in speaking could contribute to the deficiency. Thus, this study explored the levels and factors of speaking anxiety in Diploma engineering students of UiTM Johor from Pasir Gudang Campus. In addition, this study investigated their strategies to cope with speaking anxiety in ESL classrooms. Thus, this descriptive survey method study involved 50 technical students as subjects, and the data was collected using the researcher's self-administered survey known as the Level, Factors, Coping Strategies of Speaking Anxiety Survey (LFCSAS). The quantitative data were analysed using mean and percentage. The findings showed that most of the participants experienced moderate levels of speaking anxiety. Moreover, this study showed that the factor of test anxiety is the highest factor that contributes to English speaking anxiety. To reduce nervousness, students applied various coping strategies and it is considered that peer-seeking strategies enhance their positivity and confidence in speaking English.

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