Factors Contributing to Communication Apprehension among Pre-University Students

Abstract

This paper intends to investigate factors which may contribute to communication apprehension among English language learners in Sarawak, Malaysia. 49 pre-university students under a special programme called ‘Changing the Destiny of Our People’ (Mengubah Destini Anak Bangsa) participated in the study. They were chosen as their English course puts a heavy emphasis on speaking skills. Additionally, the course also expects the students to participate in both individual and group speaking tests. The data were gathered via a questionnaire and semi-structured interview. Generally, it was found that the learners disliked group discussions and were uncomfortable speaking in English. The learners were seemingly unprepared and unaware of the presentation organization. They were also found to display nervousness when asked to present in front of their classmates from the opposite gender. Finally, the learners were also not confident with their ability to pronounce English words correctly. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n8p665