Exploring the Phenomenon of Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Among English Language Learners in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The study aimed to understand the anxiety experienced by Saudi English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. It aimed to determine if their preference for foreign language classes affects their anxiety levels and which specific anxiety features are most prevalent when speaking English? The study employed a quantitative research technique to evaluate the anxiety levels of EFL learners. The anxiety was measured using the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), a widely used tool for assessing speaking anxiety that was established by Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope in 1986. The scale consists of 33 items rated on a five-point Likert scale. However, nine out of the thirty-three items have been reverse-coded and then translated into Arabic. The data indicated that 73.43% of the participants had different degrees of anxiety while talking in English. Among them, 14.06% experienced a high level of anxiety, 39.06% had moderate anxiety, and 20.31% had low anxiety. The results revealed that preference or sensation towards the EFL had no impact. Studies reveal that anxiety is a prominent concern in EFL programs, with a significant number of students experiencing challenges related to speaking anxiety.