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[Abstract] The study mainly focused on investigating English as Foreign Language (EFL) speaking anxiety and speaking strategy, comparing genders and language proficiency levels. The participants chosen for the study were 105 participants from a community college in Taiwan. The data collection was carried out in two stages. The first investigation was conducted at the beginning of the semester. The final investigation was conducted at the end of the semester after the participants had received communication strategy training. The participants were asked to fill out the Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA) and Foreign Language Speaking Strategy Use (FLSSU) questionnaires to explore the differences between the pre-test and the post-test.
The results of this study show that the scores participants derived from PRPSA and FLSSU were statistically negatively correlated. Regardless of gender group, the conclusion is that the degree of speaking anxiety had been reduced and that students' speaking strategy use had increased after receiving the communication strategy instruction. Also, the communication strategy instruction did have an impact on the five categories, which are management and planning, cognitive, communicative-experiential, interpersonal, and affective speaking strategy uses, and reduced the speaking anxiety for the lower, intermediate, and higher proficiency level students. Based on the findings, pedagogical implications are discussed with the aim of enhancing the teaching and learning of spoken English in foreign-language contexts.
[Keywords] English, speaking, anxiety, strategies, community college, EFL adult learners
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Introduction
In the 21st century, people have entered an all-encompassing society, and the world is moving towards globalization. Regardless of the country, people are unable to separate themselves from the trend of globalization. In this age of global and economic growth, the acquisition of knowledge is an important key for the success of a nation, and education no longer is the monopoly that belongs to the elite of another age. It should be shared with all of people, and it is an advantage that all of individuals should have. According to a Ministry of Education (MOE) report, lifelong education is regarded as a major educational policy, and the importance of lifelong education is highlighted. The conception of lifelong education was emphasized by the Taiwanese government, and the government has long strived to create a healthy lifelong...