THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTIVATION AND PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY AMONG JORDANIAN EFL LEARNERS OF ENGLISH

Abstract

This research aims to investigate how motivation affects English public speaking anxiety using a correlational research design. A total of 242 Jordanian postgraduate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners (PhD students) were selected from four public universities in Malaysia. The study used a non-probability purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted using two questionnaires, including the Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) and the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS). A correlational analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses through Smart PLS 3.0. The results supported the proposed conceptual framework, indicating that motivation was significantly related to English public speaking anxiety. More precisely, there was a significant negative correlation between motivation and English public speaking anxiety among Jordanian Ph.D. students. Keywords: Motivation; English public speaking anxiety; Jordanian EFL learners.