Analysis of the Causes of Speaking Anxiety among Chinese English Learners and Solutions

School of Foreign Languages, Sichuan University of Arts and Science, Dazhou, Sichuan, 635000, China

^* Corresponding author: b10726076@office365.npust.edu.tw

Abstract

Anxiety is the most researched emotion variable in the field of second language acquisition (SLA). Researchers from several nations have long examined different causation and solutions associated with second language anxiety among English learners. This study conducted a questionnaire survey of 68 English learners in China to investigate the sources of their speaking anxiety and the solutions they believe can alleviate their speaking anxiety. Research has found that learners’ sources of anxiety are Communication Apprehension, Test Anxiety, and Fear of Negative Evaluation. And school education and teachers’ teaching methods also have a certain impact on learners’ oral anxiety. 73.5% of respondents believe that the teaching methods of teachers have resulted in insufficient development of their oral skills. The study also analysis how to alleviate anxiety from the perspective of learners, come to the conclusion that schools can provide sufficient professional exercises, such as pronunciation course and psychological courses, to help learners alleviate their speaking anxiety.