Influence of English conversational clubs on speech anxiety

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of English conversational clubs on speech anxiety in eleventhgrade EFL students at a public school in Medellín. Using a qualitative case study approach, data was collected through conversation clubs, interviews, and focus groups with six students. The findings reveal that while speech anxiety negatively affects language acquisition, its impact can be mitigated by engaging students in topics of personal interest and implementing varied communicative activities. Students exposed to these methods demonstrated increased confidence, improved participation, and enhanced linguistic skills. The study concludes that conversational clubs serve as effective tools for reducing speech anxiety by fostering a relaxed and interactive
learning environment. It recommends that EFL teachers integrate dynamic and interest-driven speaking activities to enhance student motivation and language proficiency.

Keywords

Speech anxiety

foreign language anxiety

conversational clubs

EFL students

motivation

teaching strategies

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