Public speaking anxiety among English majors

Abstract

This study aims to know the outcome of the respondents of having an anxiety while performing a speech. The purpose of this study is to know its causes, symptoms and techniques on how to overcome this anxiety. The respondents are five English students who have different types of anxiety in public speaking. The in-depth interview guide focuses on their emotion or feelings the night before the speech performance. The reasons of causes of public speaking anxiety are lack of sleep, anxiousness, and lack of confidence. The results reveal that majority of the respondents feel anxious and frightened the night before the speech. This kind of feeling affects their speech performance. The respondents tend to forget some important lines. Anxiety in speaking is actually difficult to deal with or to overcome. These findings suggest the capability to overcome that every student, not only the English majors, can conquer this anxiety. As early as now, it is better to know how to control and defeat anxieties. Hence, speaking could be overcome by preparation, self-confidence, in yourself and practice.

Keywords: Speaking Anxiety, Overcoming Speech Anxiety, Anxiousness, Public Speaking, University of Mindanao, Anxiety of English Majors.