THE IMPACT OF ANXIETY ON ESL LEARNERS’ ENGLISH LANGUAGE FLUENCY

Abstract

Second language learners are generally facing difficulties to use the second language to express their thoughts effectively. They avoid talking in the second language due to psychological. This qualitative study aimed to explore the impact of anxiety on Malaysians ESL learner’s fluency in English. An open-ended questionnaire was used to collect data among 30 students from Unitar International University. The findings of the study showed that emotions such as fear, anxiety low-motivation, and the influence of mother tongue affect the learners’ English language fluency. Besides, the results of this study revealed that learners need more positive encouragement from both lecturers and peers to be able to communicate in English language more confidently. This will aid them to reduce their level of anxiety in communicating in English.

ESL learners, anxiety, fear, English language, language fluency