THU DAU MOT UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

----------

A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ABOUT ANXIETY AND

BUILDING CONFIDENCE ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING
AMONG ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS
THU DAU MOT UNIVERSITY

B
Binh Duong, 2022
 MEMBERS
HO HAI SAM
NGO GIA HUY
HOANG THI HAI YEN
NGUYEN THANH NHA
NGUYEN THI NGOC LAN
DOAN NGUYEN QUOC TIEN
ASBSTRACT
(This page we will write an abstract)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
(This page we will write acknowledgement)
Contents
ASBSTRACT.......................................................................................................................................3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................7
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY....................................................................................7
1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY..........................................................................................8
1.3 DEFINITIONS...........................................................................................................................9
1.4 STATEMENT PURPOSE.........................................................................................................9
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS.....................................................................................................10
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY........................................................................................................10
1.7 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY.....................................................................................10
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW..........................................................................................11
2.1 PUBLIC SPEAKING..............................................................................................................11
2.2 ANXIETY IN PUBLIC SPEAKING......................................................................................11
2.3 ANXIETY IN PUBLIC SPEAKING STATUS IN TDMU...................................................12
2.4 BENEFITS OF GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKING CAPABILITIES.........................................12
2.5 PREVIOUS STUDY................................................................................................................12
2.7 CHAPTER SUMMARY..........................................................................................................15
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY..............................................................................15
3.1 PARTICIPANTS.....................................................................................................................15
3.2 RECRUITMENT.....................................................................................................................15
3.3 INSTRUMENTS......................................................................................................................16
3.4 PROCEDURES........................................................................................................................16
3.5 DATA COLLECTION............................................................................................................16
3.6 DATA ANALYSIS...................................................................................................................17
CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.................................................................................17
4.1 RESULTS.................................................................................................................................17
4.2 DISCUSSION...........................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..................................................................................................................................17
 LIST OF TABLES

(This page is list of table/pic/v/v/)

 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Language is the source of communication (Utomo, 2018). The 21st century when
English language plays an international material to communication, it can understand
that English language is the most source of communication in this period. The
background of world expects that English language is not an international language in
this time of history or near future, the background of the world draws a picture of the
big development of English language in people communication. Some significant
brushstrokes in English language picture, all most countries which get certain
influence on the world due to their big finance capability, huge population, big army,
or strong political system, providing good education, high life standard also get the
best status of every part of life in the world, yes, they are using English language as
their national English. The impossibility of collapse of such countries expresses the
impossibility of collapse of English language. Overall, it proves English language is
play a significant role in the international communication.

But only normal communication does not the things that bring us achievement, it
is just the normal people’s activities. Communication is definition as the act of
communicating with people by a message, letter, or announcement. In this part we
will mention an up-graded version of communication, it is public speaking, which is
the skills that necessary to career, success, achievement recognized by many experts
in the world. Good public speaking skills are essential for everyday situations and
career opportunities (Wörtwein et al., 2015)and other (Daud et al., 2019) said that out
of the four basic skills of English (listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills),
speaking is often considered as one of the most important skills that plays an
important role in human life. The background shows that a lot of study about speaking
have conducted and the awareness of this skills is growing all over the world.

Both English language aspect and public speaking aspect is showing their
significance in part one and two in this chapter. The researcher conducts this study at
Thu Dau Mot University (TDMU), particularly among English Major Student who is
use English in whole educational time. The status show that Anxiety in Public
Speaking in TDMU English Major Student is high, almost students have faced with in
their study time, and it is effect to their career and educational achievement.
Preliminary observation shows that not many students can overcome this anxiety, in
other words, they do not know why it happens and how to pass it. Some of them want
to pass but lost way, and some try to ignore which is a dangerous and alarming
situation to university.

Summary, this study conducts under the general background that English
language is becoming a international language and Public speaking is the importance
skills effects life opportunities. In detail background contribute directly to this study is
the status of anxiety in public speaking in TDMU English Major Student. If this status
continues and have no method to improve it will negative effect to their career and
more.

1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The fastest way to impress and express yourself, recommended by experts, is to speak
well in front of a crowd. People cannot deny that the important of public speaking and
this thing is confirm by many experts from multiple major, millionaire, billionaire,
president, professors, famous politicians, and other influent people in all over the
world, this confirmation is maintained till now, this mean the importance of public
speaking has not faded anytime, in other though we can understand that its importance
is increasing. Warren Buffet – a famous billionaire stated, “You can improve your
value by 50 percent just by learning communication skills – public speaking”. Ralph
Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist said
“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel”. Gerald Rudolph who
was 38th president of the United States used to stay “If I went back to college again,
I’d concentrate on two areas: learning to write and to speak before an audience.
Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively”. The
good public speaker is a leader said by Rongie C. Abella1i, Jezyl C. Cutamora. The
fact that people who is successful usually is a good public speaker, and this thing
means public speaking really effects the success. To clear the importance of this
research topic we conduct a small survey to twenty Vietnamese companies and ten
people who use to interview in international companies with a simple question “if
your company/that international company refers a confidence public speaking ability
candidate than a lower one. The result of a tiny survey in our expectation that almost
the answer is Yes. This mean the public speaking is not only importance in normal life
or school but strongly effect on career opportunity. The survey still does the good
thing that prove the importance of public speaking skill for our reach. Recognize that
Public Speaking is very important like what we explain above plus to that, observation
found that Thu Dau Mot University English Major Students are fluent in writing skill,
reading skill and other English Skills but their Public Speaking skill is still low
because of Anxiety the most. This leads to lack of confidence when apply Public
Speaking. This problem will negative effects to their succeeds, their career
opportunities and other aspects. So, we decided to conduct this research to find out
what causes Anxiety and Building Confidence in Thu Dau Mot University English
Major Students. The reason we just conduct the research among Thu Dau Mot
University English Major Students only while the problem is affecting more is that the
subject of the research is the one who authors can direct contact with to conduct the
research methods as efficiently as possible. The location of this study is also where the
authors are learning, so the research will be carried out in the most comfortable and
best way. For all the reason, the main is authors want to ensure the quality of research.

1.3 ABBREVIATIONS
- EMS stands for English major students.
- TDMU stands for Thu Dau Mot University
- PSA stands for Public Speaking Anxiety.
1.4 STATEMENT PURPOSE

- To investigate the status of public speaking anxiety among TDMU English

major students
- To ascertain what factors of anxiety TDMU English major students are facing
with the most.
- To explore what factors can decrease PSA for building confidence in public
speaking of TDMU English major students.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1) What are the types of anxiety in public speaking which Thu Dau Mot
University English Major Students encountered the most?
2) If the types of anxiety in public speaking are different in each level of course in
Thu Dau Mot University English Major Students?
3) What are the factors which cause those types of anxiety in public speaking Thu
Dau Mot University English Major Students?
4) Which ways can apply to building the confidence in public speaking among
Thu Dau Mot University English Major Students?
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
1.7 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
There are four chapters in this study
Chapter 1 – Introduction: In this chapter include Background, The significance
of the study, Research questions, Statement purpose Scope of the study, Definitions,
and Organization of the study. This chapter in the purpose of provide the background
when this study in process, then this chapter provide the importance of this study,
three research questions is written and three main purposes will contribute to these
research questions, it can be understood that the statement purposes is the answers for
research questions. In addition, this chapter provide definitions, scope of the study and
organization of the study which are parts support for this study.
Chapter 2 – Literature Review: In this chapter include Discission, Research
methodology, Previous study, Public Speaking, Anxiety definition and anxiety in
Public Speaking definition, Benefits of good Public Speaking capabilities. In Research
methodology include Participants, Recruitment, Instruments and Procedures. This
chapter provide a ground for all the study with the previous study and significant
definition. All information in this chapter plays an importance role in this study which
directly contribute to the study.
Chapter 3 – Research methodology include Participants, Recruitment,
Instruments and Procedures. This chapter describes how this study will be conducted
Chapter 4 – Result and Discussion. This chapter discusses about what receive
from the study and provide methods to solve problems found.
 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. INTRODUCTION

The literature on plagiarism is presented in this chapter. Clarifying the key

points is the main purpose of section 2.2 and 2.3. In the section 2.4, this section
provides an overview of the status in public anxiety in TDMU English major students.
The next section 2.4, the summary of some previous study is mentioned to highlight
the problem’s significant during the past until current time. The last section of this
chapter, section 2.1 summarizes all points which discussed in the chapter

2.2 PUBLIC SPEAKING

Public speaking is one of the most important and effective ways of getting
people’s idea across (Li et al., 2016). According to (Abella & Cutamora, 2019)Public
speaking is the act of performing a speech in which an individual directly speaks to a
group of people. Another definition from (Shyam & Elizabeth Joy, 2016) Public
speaking is commonly understood as the formal, face-to-face talking of a single
person to a group of listeners. A full definition from  (Templeton & Fitzgerald, 1913),
public speaking is having a speaker to stand before the audience to deliver a speech in
a structured manner, with the purpose of either persuade, inform or entertain the
audience. In addition, (Nadiah, 2019) states that the end of the speeches the audience
should be able to bring back a message that they can learn from the speech.
Based on pervious definition, public speaking which mentioned through this
study is the action that delivery an idea or information to a group of people
individually with the certain purpose such as inform, teach, sharing experience and
persuade. Also, in this definition we do not mention to the cooperation of couple or
more people in an attempt create a speech. In this definition we only contribute to an
individual speaker.

2.3 ANXIETY IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

Anxiety is generally defined as someone’s fears in facing something that can be

a serious problem for him/ her (Daud et al., 2019). Anxiety is defined as a state of
uneasiness and apprehension of fear caused by the anticipation of something
threatening.(Raja, 2017). Anxiety is described as “the subjective feeling of tension,
apprehension, nervousness, and worry associated with an arousal of the autonomic
nervous system (Ferreira & Murray, 1983)
The definition of public speaking anxiety can be gained from the definition
public speaking itself and anxiety (Kamridah et al., 2016)and she stated that public
speaking anxiety is the set of functioning, physiological, emotional, and behavioural
facets through speaking publicly. Based on mentioned definition, anxiety in public
speaking was defined as a terrible feeling such as nervous, restless, or tense when
speak to a group of people with the symptom like heart racing, sweating and
hyperventilation. This social phobia has already negatively affected people’s
performance at work or even at (Colbeck, 2011)

2.4 ANXIETY IN PUBLIC SPEAKING STATUS IN TDMU

2.5 BENEFITS OF GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKING CAPABILITIY

From the ancient time, public speaking has been an effective means to express
political stances well as an indispensable skill of daily communication (Li et al.,
2016). According to (Wörtwein et al., 2015) Good public speaking skills are essential
for everyday situations and career opportunities. Important occasions like university
thesis defense before graduation, job interviews, and business biddings all require
outstanding public speaking ability (Li et al., 2016). Communicating effectively, one’s
thoughts before a crowd is one of the skills highly desired to be developed by
professionals (Batrinca et al., 2013). Based on these undisagreedable ideas show that
the importance of public speaking skill really exists in real life. Its major benefits cut
across the areas of personal, social, academic, and career aspects in life (Yu-Chih,
2008). Therefore, good public speaking captivity needs a serious attention.

2.6 PREVIOUS STUDY

PSA is a familiar topic in linguistics, and despite its familiarity, it is still a

classic topic. There have been a lot of previous studies on this topic done in many
countries from western countries to eastern countries, from famous universities to
smaller universities, conducted by professional researchers as well as by semi-
professional researchers. That said, the topic has always been a topic of interest in
every period of academic history.
First to mention is the study of Utomo (2018). This research studied about the
anxiety of students in speaking English, the goal of this study was to determine the
elements that contribute to students' anxiety when speaking English, including both
internal and external aspects. This research used factor analysis through PSCAS
questionnaire with the participation of student at the Second Semester Students of
English Education Department in Muhammadiyah University of Makassar. With using
descriptive qualitative methods, the research obtained the data by using questionnaire
sheet as research instrument. This study shows that fear of making mistakes is not the
big problem in PSA it is the was lowest in all factors. The result of this study also
shows that the physiological problems is the most problem contributes to PSA.
According to Michael Van Ameringen, Catherine Mancini, Peter Farvolden in
their influent study “The impact of anxiety disorders on educational achievement”. In
this study the researcher used qualitative methods with 4 questionnaire table. The
result shows that About 49% reported leaving school prematurely and 24% of those
indicated that anxiety was the primary reason for this decision. This research reveals
that anxiety disorders, particularly generalized social phobia, are linked to early
school dropout. They find out after the research fear of public speaking is common
reason that student dropped out from school. However, public speaking fear that leads
to dropping out of school is not ‘‘normal’’(Van Ameringen et al., 2003). This can be
understood that the PSA is a significant problem effects educational achievement and
need a certain remedy.
Another study of Tran, by using methodological triangulation, which involved
collecting data using questionnaires, interviews, and student autobiographies. This
means in this study the author uses both quantitative and qualitative method. the study
shows that Foreign Language Anxiety has an impact on most students (approximately
two thirds) and that teachers should take this into account in their teaching (Tran et al.,
2013). In this study again express the anxiety in learning Foreign Language in general
and anxiety in speaking Foreign Language is really exists in educational process. The
significant must be mentioned that the study was conducted in the Vietnam which is
the same location of our study, with the same condition, the same history, the same
culture, the study is expected to support our study much.
In the study of Mak (2011), the study was conducted at The Chinese University
of Hong Kong. The research was carried out in three phases: the pilot, the
quantitative phase (questionnaires) and the qualitative phase (semi-structured
interviews, discussion, and participant observation) (Mak, 2011). The purpose of this
study is found out factors contributing to the speaking-in-class anxiety of a Chinese
ESL first-year university students in Hong Kong. The one must be mentioned that the
implications of the findings of this study are discussed not only for Chinese speakers
of English but also for non-Chinese learners (Mak, 2011). The five factors, identified
by factor analysis, include: speech anxiety and fear of negative evaluation;
uncomfortableness when speaking with native speakers; negative attitudes towards the
English classroom; negative self-evaluation; and fear of failing the class/consequences
of personal failure. In addition, survey results show that speaking in front of the class
without preparation, being corrected when speaking, inadequate wait-time and not
being allowed to use the first language in a second language class were also identified
by the respondents as important factors leading to speaking-in-class anxiety. The
article concludes with pedagogic implications, for second/foreign language teachers
when attempting to create a low-anxiety classroom. The author suggests that by
attempting to provide a secure and comfortable learning atmosphere, free from fear of
speaking and conducive to risk taking in the target language can help to decrease the
speaking-in-class anxiety,
In other study of Zhang (2019) This meta-analysis investigated the relationship
between foreign language anxiety foreign language performance. qualitative method
was conducted with over 10,000 participants in fifty-five independent samples. As a
result, the study points out the strongest link between foreign language listening
anxiety and foreign language listening performance was seen in foreign language
listening anxiety. When compared to other types of anxiety, both foreign language
foreign language reading anxiety and test anxiety had a lesser link with foreign
language performance. The anxiety–performance relationship remained consistent
across groups with varying levels of foreign language proficiency, implying that
foreign language anxiety should not be overlooked regardless of foreign language
learners' ability level. Lexical similarity was found to have a more significant
moderating influence on the anxiety–performance link than linguistic family.
Language family and lexical similarity, on the other hand, may interact to influence
the anxiety–performance relationship. Finally, a meta regression study revealed that
the association between foreign language anxiety and performance may be influenced
by age.
The last study is mentioned in this chapter is the study of Salim (2015) about
self-confidence and its implication on students’ achievement in oral. The goal of this
study is to explain overall self-confidence among Indonesian English foreign language
learners, as well as their academic achievement in oral presentations and the
relationship between self-confidence and oral presentation achievement. The
correlational design is used to determine whether there is a relationship between the
variables. The participants in this study are 68 students in the English Department of a
private university in Lamongan, Indonesia, who are in their second semester. The data
for this study is collected through documentation and a questionnaire. The data
suggest that students had a high level of general self-confidence, good academic
achievement in the oral presentation, and a high correlation between the two factors.
2.7 CHAPTER SUMMARY
The literature that underpins the study has been introduced in this chapter.
Clarifying the main idea which will support to this study was informed in this chapter.
In the first lines, definition of key words was provided, then the analysis of good
public speaking skill also was carefully mentioned. In addition, this chapter provided
the status of public speaking anxiety in TDMU where this study will be conduct, this
act shows the real status of objective in this study to give an overview and again
express the significant of this study.

CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 PARTICIPANTS
The participants are 400 students of English language department in Thu Dau Mot
University. 400 participants consist of 100 freshmen, 100 second-year students, 100
third-year students and 100 fourth-year students at English language department in
Thu Dau Mot University. We are going to balance the gender of the participant in
expectation that 50% is female and 50% remaining is male. This percent is divided in
each course, it means in 100 participant each course level has 50 female and 50 males.
The participants are recruited from freshman to senior to find out that if the familiar to
the language through year effects the anxiety of public speaking. In addition, the
balance of gender in participant was expected to reveal if it is difference in public
speaking anxiety between female and male. Specially, the participant was chosen
randomly not concerned to their knowledge, learning outcomes, family circumstances
or any other specified standards. ……

3.2 RECRUITMENT
Participant will be recruited directly in random class in English language department,
through campus of Thu Dau Mot university of course must make sure they are English
Major Students though the student card or other ways. The disadvantage is not
everyone willing to help authors complete the survey and because if that, we offer

them a little gift such as candy, sticker, notebook, etc, after they finish each survey.
The author expect that ways can increasing the comfortable atmosphere through the
survey and the participant will not feel be interrupt. Funding for the purchase of the
gifts comes from the authors' personal money and other sponsorships if any. Although
the development of Internet Technology but we will not use this convenient thing to
help pick up the data is afraid of not knowing the person who answers when questions
really is English Major Students in Thu Dau Mot University or not. ……..

3.3 INSTRUMENTS

In this research we will use questionnaires…about….to.

3.4 PROCEDURES

3.5 DATA COLLECTION

a) Status
 b) Factors

3.6 DATA ANALYSIS

From the data collection the author will analysis here……

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 RESULTS

4.2 DISCUSSION

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virtual audience platform for public speaking training. International Workshop on Intelligent Virtual
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