Speaking anxiety as a factor in studying EFL

This qualitative study was designed to investigate the speaking anxiety factors in EFL classes. The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) questionnaire adapted and modified from Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope (1986), and Yahya (2013) was used in collecting the data. Sixty five second grade, year 11 senior high students from SMA Negeri 5 Banda Aceh were asked to fill in the questionnaire to find out what factors lead to speaking anxiety among these EFL students. The findings indicated that communication apprehension factors lead to 71% of students’ speaking anxiety followed by fear of negative evaluations, 53%; then test anxiety, 48%, and the lowest was 39% for anxiety about English classes. English teachers are expected to be able to understand the character of each of their students in the classroom, because the anxiety level for each student can be different, one from the other