The effect of fear of negative evaluation on EFL learners’ oral performance

Abstract

The paper at hand spots the light on the effect of Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) on students’ oral performance. Participants are third year LMD, LSD students at the Department of English, University of Bejaia. For that, this research work relied on a mixed-method approach based on both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative method consisted of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) and a questionnaire while the qualitative method was based on a semi-structured interview. The relationship between the students’ FNE and their oral performance during the oral sessions was investigated. Findings showed that most of the students experience FNE. Moreover, FNE revealed to have a negative effect on students’ oral performance. The pedagogical implications of these findings were presented to cope with FNE and to improve learners’ oral performance