EFL Learners’ Speaking Anxiety and the Strategies for Improvement

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to assess the speaking anxiety of second year EFL college
learners and the strategies for improvement at Begemidir College of Teachers’ Education in Ethiopia. The study
used descriptive survey design that involved quantitative method. The data were collected through
questionnaire. One hundred-twenty students’ participants were certain through comprehensive sampling for
questionnaire. The study revealed that students had extremely negative experiences with speaking activities
in a foreign language classroom. English speaking anxiety was a big problem of college English language
learners. Learners believed that they could not perform in English and consequently form negative
expectations which in turn lead to decreased effort and the avoidance of opportunities to enhance their
communication skills.