An Analysis of Undergraduates’ Anxiety in Speaking English Language at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro: A Case Study

Abstract

Although, English language has spread across Sindh to a great extent over the years due to plethora of reasons which mainly include the status of English as the official language of the province of Sindh; secondly it is a medium of instruction at all levels in the educational institutions and universities in Sindh. Due to the hegemony of English, the trend of imparting education from primary to post doctoral studies has deepened its roots in Sindh like that of entire Pakistan. Yet the speaking anxiety of undergraduate students studying in various departments at this university remains intact rather than diminishing. English speaking and learning anxiety as an unambiguous feature of the language acquisition have employed an immense area of research since last couple of decades. This study is aimed at exploring the height, level and degree of anxiety in speaking & learning English amongst the undergraduates of various departments of the University of Sindh. This research has been carried out with the help of a quantitative research design after bringing a survey methodology in use so as to collect data. The sample of the research consisted of 200 participants belonging to different departments of the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. The students for the purpose were chosen indiscriminately. English as foreign verbal communication lecture hall nervousness scale urbanized by Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope (1986) has been utilized en route for gathering information for this research. Results and findings of the research have underlined more than a few implications in this regard. Moreover the remedy for removing the students‘ anxiety has also been insinuated and suggested.