“THE INTERRELATION BETWEEN CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND SPEECH ANXIETY IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING”

• Shonaeva Aygerim Asilbek qizi

  Alfraganus University aygerimshonaeva@gmail.com

  Author

When acquiring a foreign language, many students face psychological challenges, and among them, speech anxiety is especially common and difficult to overcome. This article investigates how a learner’s cultural background influences the emergence and intensity of speech anxiety. Using insights from intercultural communication, second language education, and learner psychology, the paper explains how cultural norms—such as levels of formality, views on authority, attitudes toward making mistakes, and group interaction—can either facilitate or hinder speaking in the target language. It highlights that learners from collectivist or high-context cultures often experience increased anxiety in communicative language classrooms, where active verbal participation is expected. Furthermore, the article shows that misinterpreting culturally influenced behaviors may lead teachers to undervalue learners' true potential or misunderstand their silence as disengagement. To address these challenges, the study suggests culturally aware teaching practices that promote psychological safety, increase learner engagement, and reduce fear of speaking. Overall, the research emphasizes the role of cultural awareness in shaping effective and supportive language teaching strategies, particularly in diverse, multicultural settings.

(Note: You can adapt these based on the sources you’ve used. Below are suggested references for academic use.)

Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B., & Cope, J. (1986). Foreign language classroom anxiety. The Modern Language Journal, 70(2), 125–132.

Krashen, S. D. (1982). Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. Pergamon Press.

MacIntyre, P. D., & Gardner, R. C. (1991). Methods and results in the study of anxiety and language learning: A review of the literature. Language Learning, 41(1), 85–117.

Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.

Young, D. J. (1991). Creating a low-anxiety classroom environment: What does language anxiety research suggest? The Modern Language Journal, 75(4), 426–439.

Brown, H. D. (2007). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching (5th ed.). Pearson Education.

• PDF