Oral Communication Apprehensions Manifestations among Jordanian Undergraduates in Hashemite University

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to uncover and understand the Jordanian student’s attitudes and perceptions of their own Oral Communication Apprehension (OCA) in English language use inside and outside classroom settings. Nine students were purposively recruited from the Hashemite University (HU) in Jordan from different programs where the Medium of Instruction is English. Interviews were employed to elicit students’ attitudes and perspectives on their apprehensive experiences in communicating the English language with either their professors in the classroom or with English-Speaking individuals and their possible explanations of their language apprehensive behaviour in the oral modality. Findings revealed that the Jordanian students have strong levels of oral language apprehension in both the formal and informal settings which inhibits them from undertaking smooth communications with English. Among the explanations and the reasons for their Oral Communication Apprehension, the Jordanian students emphasized the lack of proper English pronunciation, limited vocabulary, and lack of self-confidence. Finally, pedagogical implications were suggested.