Abstract:
This study aims to determine the level of students' speaking anxiety as well as the
reasons behind it in EFL students' speech anxiety. Students from SMP
Muhammadiyah 1 Medan in the eighth grade served as the study's respondents. Data
for this study were gathered through interviews, questionnaires, and observation by
the researcher employing the descriptive qualitative technique. The researcher
employed three phases in the implementation process. The first step involved
watching the students in English class, the second involved giving the students
questionnaires, and the last step involved interviewing the professors and students. A
questionnaire that was modified from the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale
(FLCAS) was used to assess anxiety levels. The findings indicated that 41% of the
students had a high level of anxiety when speaking English, compared to 3% (one
student) who had a high level and 56% (sixteen students) who had a medium level.
shown minimal nervousness when speaking in English. This indicates that when
speaking English in class, the majority of students feel a moderate level of fear. The
results show that the scenario is caused by a lack of language, practice, confidence,
anxiety about making mistakes, fear of being laughed at, and fear of being labeled
haughty, among other things. As a result, it is critical that educators support and
inspire their pupils and employ techniques like games to make them feel less anxious.
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