INVESTIGATING THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF XENOGLOSSOPHOBIA IN SPEAKING CLASSROOMS

Abstract

Effective communication skills are undeniably regarded as the most important characteristic in English language learning. However, becoming communicatively competent is difficult for foreign language learners .As the literature indicates, the speaking is extremely anxiety provoking in many languages. The present study aims at finding out the level of xenoglossophobia experienced by third year EFL students of Djilali Bounaama University,as well as its effect on their oral academic achievement and the factors contributing to their speaking anxiety.This research is carried out by employing both quantitative and qualitative method. Data have been gathered from 80 third year EFL students of Djilali Bounaama Univesity through a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview with 13 students who belong to the high anxiety level category. The findings indicate that the students generally had low level of anxiety .A statistically significant relation between the level of xenoglossophobia and students’ oral achievement has been determined. The interview data indicate that the anxiety has been caused because of several factors: social, linguistic,pedagogical and personal factors. Finally, this research offers recommendations for future research.