SOME ADEQUATE REMEDIES FOR ENGLISH MAJORS’ PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY IN EFL ORAL PRESENTATION CLASSES

Abstract

Public speaking has long been proved an indispensable skill in teaching English as a foreign language to students at tertiary level as it plays a vital role in not only their foreign language development but also their future career. However, during their course of study, English majors often feel anxious before and during their oral presentations in English. This paper, therefore, sheds lights on common factors that often provoke students’ anxiety in their oral presentations. It then offers some effective remedies to transform an EFL oral presentation class into a positive, supportive and stress-free learning environment. It is hoped to benefit both teachers and students of a foreign language in reducing students’ anxiety and boosting their public speaking performance.