Factors That Cause EFL Learners’ English-Speaking Anxiety: A Case Study of Cambodian Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

It is undeniable that most EFL learners have experienced academic difficulty in learning English; most of them live in non-English-speaking countries that use English as a foreign language, for example, Cambodia. This study has two main purposes, including: (1) to investigate the factors that cause EFL learners’ speaking anxiety in their higher education institutions; and (2) to examine the influences of anxiety factors on EFL learners’ speaking anxiety. The research employed a quantitative research method by using purposive sampling; a self-reported questionnaire was administered to 381 English students among senior students who currently study at three universities. Based on the findings of this research, there are six factors that make them feel anxious in the English foreign language classroom: lack of knowledge, lack of self-confidence, lack of self-esteem, lack of class interaction, lack of practice, and poor listening compression. Based on the findings, the researcher provides some recommendations to solve students’ English-speaking anxiety as well as improve students’ learning strategies.