An Investigation of The Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety among EFL Advancedlevel students: The case of Master Two Students at Tlemcen University

Abstract

Although foreign language anxiety is a widely explored subject in the area of Foreign Language teaching, studies that focus on the speaking anxiety in EFL advanced levels, are not common. To fill this gap, the present study aims at investigating the phenomenon in an EFL context and analyzes the levels of EFL students’ speaking anxiety. In addition, it provides an insight into the nature of the main source of speaking anxiety from the advanced learners’ perspective. To reach this end , an exploratory case study research was conducted in the university of Tlemcen in which data were gathered from thirty five (35) second year EFL master students, through a questionnaire (Foreign Language speaking Anxiety Scale), as well as through classroom observation checklist. The obtained results were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results of the study revealed that the students generally had a moderate level of speaking anxiety. The data also revealed that the fear of oral exams was their major anxiety-provoking. The observation results showed that the speaking anxiety affects negatively the oral performance of the majority of students. Lastly, on the bases of the findings obtained in this study, some suggestions and recommendations are drawn for EFL teachers and learners to cope with the speaking anxiety and to improve the oral performance in class.