English Speaking Anxiety Among High Degree Students of English Education Study Programs Bau-Bau Universities

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the levels of speaking anxiety among students, evaluate the key factors contributing to students' speaking anxiety when using English, and explore strategies based on how students cope with anxiety. This study used a mixed-method design with 75 quantitative and 15 qualitative samples of 5th-semester students from Dayanu Ikhsanuddin University Bau-Bau in the 2023/2024 academic year. The instruments used were questionnaires and interviews. The content validity of the instruments was determined by seeking consideration from one expert (expert judgment) who stated that the instruments used were valid after revision. The reliability estimation of the instruments was calculated using the alpha coefficient (Cronbach's Alpha) and deemed reliable. To determine the factors that contribute to speaking anxiety and the fear of making mistakes among students when using English, and to collect data, descriptive analysis was used for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. The results showed that the majority of students experienced moderately high levels of speaking anxiety. Specifically, only 6.67% of students had very low anxiety, 8% had moderately low anxiety, 16% had moderate anxiety, 38.67% had moderately high anxiety, and 30.67% experienced very high anxiety. Then, from the results of the interview, various anxiety factors and strategies for dealing with anxiety were identified, and results of the interview, the authors concluded several factors that cause' speaking anxiety, where anxiety factors included internal and external factors consisting of five points, namely: Fear of making mistakes, Lack of self-confidence, Lack of Mastery of Material, Fear of Negative Evaluation, Lack of practice speaking. Meanwhile, strategies used by students include Positive Thinking, Physical Techniques (distractions), Breathing Techniques, Peer Support, Self-confidence, Self-motivation, Relaxation, and Spiritual.