Volume 3 | Issue 4 | 2020

Corresponding Author Affiliation*:  University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of English language anxiety upon students’ scores in IELTS speaking module attending IELTS preparatory classes in three mainstream English language institutes of Lahore. In this research, the correlation between English language anxiety and candidates’ age, gender, years of education and medium of instruction is found out. An inventory Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) designed by Horwitz, Horwitz and Cope (1986) is adapted for the current study. 33 items of the survey are based on i) communication apprehension, ii) fear of negative evaluation and iii) test anxiety. The survey is administered to 60 students of three different IELTS preparatory institutes of Lahore. Obtained data is analysed using SPSS version 20. Independent t-test, ANOVA and Pearson coefficient is applied to check the correlation. Results show that there is a strong negative correlation between females’ FLA and their IELTS speaking scores. Candidates who have Urdu as a medium of instruction face a higher level of FLA and candidates having 12-14 years of education experience the highest level of anxiety among the various age groups. Younger IELTS aspirants experience highest level of FLA as compared to the older age groups.

Keywords: IELTS, Language Anxiety, FLA, Speaking, Second Language.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37227/IJEKM-2020-02-41