English Speaking Anxiety of Thai EFL Undergraduate Students: Dominant Type, Level, and Coping Strategies

Abstract

This current study aimed to investigate the dominant type and level of speaking anxiety among Thai EFL undergraduate students. In addition, this study explored their strategies to cope with speaking anxiety. Fifty-six first-year English major students participated in the study. The research instruments included a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. The Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Scale (FLSAS) questionnaire was used to examine the dominant type and level of speaking anxiety. After the questionnaire, six students participated in a semi-structured interview to explore their coping strategies with speaking anxiety. The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency and percentage. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data obtained from the semi-structured interview. The results showed that low self-confidence is the dominant type of speaking anxiety, Moreover, the study found that most of the participants experienced moderate levels of speaking anxiety. Finally, the results also found that the participants used various coping strategies to reduce speaking anxiety, namely focusing their attention on other things, asking for help, preparing in advance, positive thinking, or using helpful tools. Other research methodologies and implications for future studies are also suggested.