An exploration of speaking-in-class anxiety with Chinese ESL learners

This article reports the findings of a study investigating factors contributing to the speaking-in-class anxiety of a group of 313 Chinese ESL first-year university students in Hong Kong. Results using the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) of Horwitz et al. reveal five factors leading to the group’s speaking-in-class anxiety. The five factors, identified by factor analysis, include: speech anxiety and fear of negative evaluation; uncomfortableness when speaking with native speakers; negative attitudes towards the English classroom; negative self-evaluation; and fear of failing the class/consequences of personal failure. In addition, survey results show that speaking in front of the class without preparation, being corrected when speaking, inadequate wait-time and not being allowed to use the first language in a second language class were also identified by the respondents as important factors leading to speaking-in-class anxiety. The article concludes with pedagogic implications, for second/foreign language teachers when attempting to create a low-anxiety classroom.