TRIGGERS OF SPEAKING ANXIETY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES: INSIDERS’ PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Learning a new language presents a host of challenges for non-native speakers. Foreign language anxiety of non-native speakers is one of the main issues in teaching and learning a foreign language. Non-native students of foreign languages and their teachers may not be aware of their different views on foreign language anxiety, therefore an attempt at fostering dialogue and mutual understanding must be made with a view to informing all parties concerned. This paper will examine only speaking anxiety of non-native learners of five different foreign languages for specific purposes (FLSP). The aim is to identify FLSP students' and teachers' perspectives on the causes of FLSP speaking anxiety as well as any differences in their viewpoints. A survey was conducted with FLSP students and teachers from all four Slovenian universities in winter 2020/2021. The results show the discrepancies between FLSP students' and teachers' views on the triggers for speaking anxiety of non-native speakers as learners of FLSP.