Investigating the factors of spoken English anxiety among the English major students in Bangladesh

Abstract

"The issue of spoken English anxiety is common in Bangladesh, where English is used as an unofficial second language. This study was conducted to explore the factors contributing to spoken English anxiety among undergraduate university students in the English department in Bangladesh. This study held significant importance as it investigated the prevalent factors of spoken English anxiety among undergraduate students of English department in Bangladesh, emphasizing the necessity to mitigate these obstacles to facilitate effective communication and enhance language proficiency, which was imperative for their academic and professional achievements. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach. Data was collected from a sample of 12 students in the English department through the use of open-ended questions and semi-structured interviews. The data was thematically analyzed, which allowed us to identify three primary categories. The key findings of the research indicated that the students of English department experienced spoken English anxiety due to their background, linguistic challenges, non-linguistic factors such as formal classroom settings, fear of negative feedback and low motivation. The study's conclusions led to the recommendation that creating a supportive and comprehensive learning environment that fosters the development of English language competency require the active involvement of administrators, professors and students"