The Level and Sources of Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety among Saudi EFL University Students
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This study aims to investigate the level and the sources of Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety (FLSA). To achieve this aim, a mixed-method approach was used by implementing a questionnaire and interviews. Eighty-five female Saudi EFL university students completed the questionnaire. Six of the most highly anxious students were identified according to the questionnaire results and interviewed. The findings revealed that the participants experienced a moderate level of FLSA in their English class. In addition, there are several sources of FLSA, which can be listed in the following order: fear of making mistakes, forced participation, lack of vocabulary, lack of practice, lack of grammar. Participants also reported other sources of anxiety such as fear of making pronunciation mistakes, the negative attitude of teachers and the need to give oral presentations. Based on the results, the study reached a conclusion and constructed a set of recommendations.
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Al-Saraj (2014a) and Alnahidh and Altalhab (2020) found that a lack of English speaking practice resulting from limited classes and limited chances to speak English in daily life are major factors of FLSA among Saudi students.
“These results are in line with Al-Saraj (2014a) and Alnahidh and Altalhab (2020), who found that a lack of English speaking practice resulting from limited classes and limited chances to speak English in daily life are major factors of FLSA among Saudi students.”
From Triggers for Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety: Perceptions of Saudi EFL College Students (2024) · cites this paper as Alnahidh and Altalhab (2020)
The Discussion (page unavailable) identifies limited English-speaking practice as a major factor in FLSA among the study’s Saudi students and reports that they lacked opportunities to practice in class. It also cites Alsaraj (2014) for limited classes and practice time in Saudi Arabia. Our copy does not establish that limited chances to speak English in daily life contributed to the students’ FLSA. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAlnahidh & Altalhab (2020) identified that obligating students to participate is a factor that contributes to FLSA.
“These findings are in agreement with those of other researchers who identified that obligating students to participate is a factor that contributes to FLSA (Alnahidh & Altalhab, 2020).”
From Triggers for Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety: Perceptions of Saudi EFL College Students (2024) · cites this paper as Alnahidh & Altalhab, 2020
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Cites
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“Aida (1994) claimed that learners who experience communication apprehension face difficulties when communicating with others or when they express themselves in a foreign language classroom, for instance, while speaking or participating in the lessons.”
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“Moreover, Asif (2017) conducted a study using an identical research approach.”
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Triggers for Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety: Perceptions of Saudi EFL College Students
Faqihi, M. A. (2024) · English Language Teaching · doi:10.5539/elt.v17n2p1 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Fear of receiving a negative evaluation has been found to significantly contribute to students ’ anxiety in Saudi Arabia (Alnahidh & Altalhab, 2020; Rafada & Madini, 2017b).”
BackgroundResultInfluential
- Authors
- Alnahidh, F., & Altalhab, S.
- Affiliations
- King Saud University (SA)
- ORCID
- Altalhab, Sultan
- Venue
- Advances in Language and Literary Studies
- Published
- 2020-02-29
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 55
- ISSN
- 2203-4714 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3037656452
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 17.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Advances in Language and Literary Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Communication in Education and Healthcare
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
- Keywords
- foreign language speaking anxiety, EFL university students, Saudi students, causes of anxiety, fear of making mistakes, lack of practice, teacher attitudes, oral presentations, pronunciation anxiety
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