THE EFFECT OF ANXIETY ON SPEAKING PERFORMANCE IN EFL LEARNERS

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of anxiety on speaking performance among EFL learners. As many students struggle with nervousness, fear of making mistakes, and low confidence during speaking tasks, anxiety remains one of the major obstacles to effective oral communication. The research collected data through a student survey to understand how learners experience speaking anxiety and how it influences their fluency, pronunciation, and overall performance. The results show that anxiety significantly affects students’ ability to speak smoothly, often leading to hesitation, slower speech, and difficulty recalling vocabulary. Many participants reported that anxiety also impacts their pronunciation, making their speech less clear when they feel pressured or afraid of being judged. Despite these challenges, some students noted that supportive classroom environments, preparation time, and peer collaboration helped reduce anxiety and improve their willingness to speak. Overall, the findings suggest that speaking anxiety has a strong impact on EFL learners’ speaking performance and should be addressed through targeted instructional support. The paper offers practical recommendations for reducing anxiety in speaking lessons and enhancing learners’ communicative confidence.