The Effect of Anxiety on Students’ Oral Exam Performance

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the effect of anxiety on third year students’ oral exam performance at the department of English /university of Mohammed Seddik Ben Yahia. In this research, it is hypothesized that if anxiety increases, students’ oral exam performance can be negatively affected. To achieve the research aims of this study the data was collected through two research tools, a questionnaire, an interview and a Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale. The questionnaire was administered to four groups of third year students at the department of English Language at Mohamed Seddik Ben Yahia University-Jijel, making a number of 109 out of 368. It aims at discovering the impact of anxiety on students’ oral exam performance. The structured interview was administered to four teachers of oral expression. It aims at interviewing those teachers who are teaching the third year students in the oral session. Moreover, The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale was directed to the same sample of students. It aims at assessing the degree to which students feel anxious in Foreign Language classroom. The findings indicated that both teachers and students have knowledge about the existence of anxiety and its impact on students’ performance in the oral exam. Moreover, there are many causes that increase the students’ anxiety in the oral exam which affects their ability to perform well. Based on the results obtained, some pedagogical recommendations were suggested to help both teachers and students to reduce anxiety in EFL classes.