Speaker
Description
The impact of public speaking anxiety (PSA) was found to significantly affect the quality of presentation among undergraduates majoring in English. This study aims to investigate psychological, linguistic, environmental, and experiential barriers to PSA among English majors at Ho Chi Minh University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology (HUFLIT). This study utilized a convergent parallel mixed-methods, cross-sectional design. Quantitative data collection was carried out via Likert-scale surveys among 133 participants. Results were further established via in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 highly anxious participants. Results revealed that environmental factors, particularly time pressure and unfamiliar topics (M=3.85), are the most important statistical stressors. Moreover, the experience of large audiences further heightened anxiety among participants. From a psychological point of view, English majors face an “English major burden” which demands flawless performance (M=3.79). Such a situation triggers considerable evaluation apprehension. From a linguistic point of view, grammar and vocabulary-related issues evoke considerable anxiety among the participants. Moreover, insufficient practice and rote memorization create an experiential avoidance pattern. The results suggest that these barriers are interconnected. Linguistic hindrances heighten psychological fears, which are further heightened by environmental triggers to create an experiential avoidance pattern. To alleviate PSA among English majors at HUFLIT, it is recommended that participants be desensitized to environmental triggers and encouraged to focus more on effective communication rather than grammar and vocabulary. Additionally, participants should be encouraged to engage in low-stakes practice to overcome rote memorization.
Keywords: public-speaking, anxiety, barriers, mixed-methods
