The Impact of Extracurricular Activities on Reducing EFL Learners Speaking Anxiety. Case of second year EFL students university of Biskra.

Abstract

This study provides an overview of the influence of speaking anxiety on the speaking performance of English as foreign language (EFL) learners. Also, it examines the significance of engaging in extracurricular activities to reduce this anxiety. The participants in this mixed methods study were second-year students in the English education department of Letters and Languages. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to second-year students to see their level of speaking anxiety and their attitudes toward participating in extracurricular activities. Additionally, observations were conducted on second-year presenters performing different tasks. The findings revealed that 100% of students experienced moderate levels of speaking anxiety, and the majority agreed that it negatively impacted their oral performance. Furthermore, 97% of participants recognized the importance of participating in extracurricular activities for oral expression tasks, and the majority agreed that such activities helped to reduce their speaking anxiety and enhance their speaking skills. Overall, this study highlights the significance of extracurricular activities in reducing speaking anxiety among EFL learners. These findings have important implications for educators and policymakers seeking to improve the oral proficiency of EFL students.