A Comparative Study Of English Public Speaking Anxiety Between English And Non-English Major Graduates

Many universities in western countries take English Public Speaking course as one of the students’ compulsory courses. By the year of 2006, nearly 40 colleges had set up English Speech course in China and the number had risen to around 200 until 2013. This research has surveyed the 44 graduate students who participated in the "FLTRP CUP" English Speech Contest from Guangxi Normal University, aiming to investigate the present situation of English Public Speaking Anxiety between English and non-English major graduates.By means of questionnaire and interview, the present study attempts to explore (1) the overall situation of English public speaking anxiety among postgraduates of English and non-English majors; (2) similarities and differences in their anxiety; (3) causes of English public speaking anxiety among postgraduates of English and non-English majors; and (4) expectations for English public speaking courses/training programs from postgraduates of English and non-English majors. The results of the study are as follows:(1) Public speaking anxiety exists among graduates between English and non-English majors, and the speakers’anxiety reaches the highest point in the post-speech stage. (2) Generally speaking, non-English major graduates suffer a higher degree of anxiety than English major graduates, but there exists no significant difference regarding their anxiety respectively in the pre-speech, the while-speech and the post-speech phase. (3) English proficiency, speaking skills and confidence are the main causes for English Public Speaking Anxiety. (4) It is urgent for colleges and universities to offer English public speaking courses. Some important training skills related to English public speaking anxiety are required to be embodied in the course.Finally, some suggestions on how to reduce English public speaking anxiety are put forward for the teachers who lecture on English public speaking, students who are keen in English public speaking and the educational institutes which are responsible for the English public speaking programs.