Exploring English Speaking Anxiety among Non-English Major Freshmen at UEH

Abstract

English has earned itself the global status of the most commonly spoken language, with billions of learners worldwide recognizing the importance of learning English. In Vietnam, many investments and efforts have been made to improve the quality of English teaching and learning. One specific example is the National Foreign Language Project 2020, which the government expects to enable students to communicate well in English. Among the four skills, speaking is essential especially for those entering the job market. Improved communication skills allow students to apply for better jobs and have higher living standards. At UEH, the school’ development strategies aim for a future university of high training quality, international exchange programs and internationally-recognized research publications. More and more subjects are being taught in English, so students are expected to have an excellent English-speaking ability to interact with their teachers and peers in the classroom and socialize with the international academic community. Thus, the demand for effective oral communication skills is higher than ever. However, Vietnamese EFL students tend to speak English with difficulty and seem to have trouble communicating in English. Among various issues that hinder oral proficiency, English speaking anxiety is the crucial factor that can impede students' speaking ability.