The Correlation between Learners’ Speaking Anxiety and Oral Presentation. The Case of Master 1 Students in the Department of English at Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou.

Abstract

The present study is concerned with the co-relation that exists between learners’ speaking anxiety and oral presentations. It attempts to find if speaking anxiety exists among Master 1 students in the Department of English and the effects it has on their oral performance. Moreover, it tries to find a solution to this issue which is to practice oral presentations frequently when learning English in order to alleviate learners’ anxiety while speaking in English. This work was conducted in the Department of English at MMUTO using Horwitz, et al’s theory (1986) on Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety. This study is based on mixed method approach which consists in the combination and the integration of both quantitative and qualitative methods. In order to analyze the collected data from the semi-structured interview conducted with teachers and the questionnaire administered to Master1 students, we have relied on the SPSS software to analyze the quantitative data and the qualitative content analysis for the analysis of the non-numerical data. The findings of the study illustrate that many students are experiencing anxiety when asked to deliver a speech in English. The results also reveal that even though speaking anxiety influences negatively students’ oral performance, the integration and the practice of oral presentations in many modules in the Department of English arise the level of self-confidence among students and help them to reduce their anxiety.