Glossophobia in EFL classroom: exploring the fear of public speaking among the university students in Bhutan

Abstract

Public speaking is recognized as one of the crucial life skills, serving as a means for individuals to develop confidence through their communication abilities (Adnan et al., 2014). It refers to a situation where an individual is talking or delivering a speech in front of a crowd or a public gathering. However, one of the primary issues that students encounter in various educational institutions is their fear of speaking in public. This fear of speaking in public is also referred to as one of the phobias, which is ‘glossophobia.’ Therefore, the study is about Glossophobia in the EFL Classroom: Exploring the Fear of Public Speaking among University Students in Bhutan. Hence, the study's main objective is to explore the root causes of experiencing the fear of public speaking in the EFL classroom. The study further explores ways to overcome this fear of speaking in a public setting. This research study focuses on university students in Bhutan through a qualitative approach. It is undertaken through interviews to gather data or information from students across various universities in Bhutan through students' experiences, perceptions, and behavior. The ultimate goal and result of this research is a comprehensive understanding of the glossophobia experienced by the students and the causes and possible strategies to overcome this issue. Also, these findings are intended to enhance student's confidence in public speaking.