AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FACTORS CAUSING ENGLISH SPEAKING ANXIETY AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY OF BALOCHISTAN, QUETTA

Abstract

Anxiety is the worried state of mind. It can affect the second language learning process. Therefore it has been greatly focused by the researchers all over the world. This study has aimed at exploring the factors that are responsible for foreign language speaking anxiety among the postgraduate students of University of Balochistan, Pakistan. Survey research method, a quantitative research design, was employed in which a questionnaire comprising eighteen items was adapted from Horwitz, Horwitz and Cope (1986) Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS). Descriptive and inferential data were performed through SPSS (version, 21). The findings of the study revealed that the postgraduate students of University of Balochistan experienced anxiety due to numerous factors in their EFL classroom. This study has implications on both the fields of English language teaching and learning in Pakistan.