A Comparative Study of the Prevalence of Foreign Language Learning Anxiety in Speaking Class: Grade 11 Students in Gida Ayana and Ask Preparatory Schools in focus

Abstract

This study investigated levels, major causes and determining factors of foreign language speaking anxiety and students' perception of it in Gida Ayana Preparatory School and Ask Preparatory School students who were learning English as a foreign language. Sample population of the study was 120 from both schools. The data regarding the levels of EFL speaking anxiety were collected through a questionnaire, and 24 participants were interviewed to get in-depth data. The quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, and the qualitative data were analyzed through context analysis (through the situation in which the event happened). The results of the quantitative data and qualitative data demonstrated that most of the students perceive speaking skill as an anxiety causing factor. It was also found that pronunciation, immediate questions, fears of making mistakes and negative evaluation are the causes of English as a foreign language speaking anxiety. Regarding anxiety level, Ask preparatory school students' anxiety level is higher than that of Gida Ayana preparatory school for communication apprehension anxiety factor. Concerning test anxiety Ask PreparatorySchool students' anxiety level indicated higher than Gida Ayana Preparatory School for this factor again. Additionally for fear of negative evaluation, Ask Preparatory School students' anxiety level was greater than that of Gida Ayana Preparatory School students' anxiety level. On the other hand related to English classroom anxiety mean level, Gida Ayana Preparatory School students' is higher than that of Ask Preparatory School students' anxiety mean level.