Overcoming the Fear of Expression: English Speaking Anxiety among the Students of Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
Keywords:
English speaking anxiety (ESA), Multilingual and multicultural environment, Mixed method approach, Prevalence and Main causes of ESA.Abstract
The present research study has been conducted in 2025 amongst the students studying in the multilingual and multicultural environment, and in various disciplines of Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad in order to investigate the prevalence, Levels of prevalence and main causes of English language anxiety in these students. For this purpose, mixed-method approach was adopted using surveys to collect numbers and patterns through questionnaires for quantitative analysis, and interviews to understand personal experiences for qualitative analysis of the data. Findings of the study show that many university students suffer from speaking English anxiety even after years of learning the language because of the factors like fear of being judged, weak vocabulary, and unsupportive classroom environments. The study concludes that reducing English speaking anxiety needs both emotional support and better teaching methods. Universities should use confidence-building exercises along with communicative teaching to create friendly classrooms where students can express themselves freely. This research offers useful ideas for teachers, curriculum planners, and policymakers to improve the English learning process in higher education.
