An Analysis of Student’s Speaking Anxiety at Senior High School

Abstrak

This research investigates the speaking anxiety experienced by students at SMA Negeri 4 Pulau Morotai in learning English as a foreign language. The study aims to identify the factors contributing to students' speaking anxiety and analyze its impact on their speaking performance. A quantitative method was employed using a structured questionnaire consisting of 40 items, distributed to 30 first-grade students. Data were analyzed through validity and reliability tests, along with descriptive statistical analysis using SPSS. The findings reveal that students experience significant speaking anxiety caused by internal factors such as low self-confidence and negative past experiences, as well as external factors like unsupportive classroom environments and fear of peer judgment. Fluency and pronunciation were found to be the most affected components. The study concludes that speaking anxiety significantly hinders students' ability to express themselves in English, thus suggesting the need for a more supportive and communicative learning environment to reduce anxiety and enhance students’ speaking confidence.