Psychological Factors Affecting EFL Students’ Speaking Performance.

Abstract

The aim of this research work is to investigate the issue of psychological factors, and its impact on Algerian high school students’ speaking performance.The work is an attempt to explore the influence of fear and anxiety as a psychological factor on the speaking performance of students in English. The case study of the presented work is first year high school students (Literary Stream) at Mustapha Feroukhi High School in Ain Defla. In order to explore what psychological factors are affecting pupils while performing in English and whether these psychological factors contribute in fostering or reducing the speaking performance of these pupils , the researchers used one questionnaire that was administrated to High School students at Mustapha Feroukhi, in addition to an interview that was filled by teachers of English at Mohamed Bourass and teachers of Mustapha Feroukhi. The investigation of the previously mentioned issue is divided into three chapters: the first one comprises an emphasis on the definitions of the variables psychological factors in high schools.The second chapter provides a review of the literature related to the the theme of the dissertation, the relation between anxiety ,fear of making mistakes and speaking. The third chapter provides a quantitative and qualilative study of the investigated topic,it tries to analyze ,discuss , interpret the outcomes ,and set a devision of recommendation to the several categories in the educational as well as the social framework. On the light of the findings, the study underlined the importance of psychological variables.Despite the fact that there were numerous favorable factors ,the psychological issues dominated negatively fear of making mistakes and anxiety can be viewed as major negative issues that contribute in reducing pupils’ speaking performance in English.These two separate issues affected pupils contribution in speaking class negatively,that is to say the hypothesis of the introduced research was confirmed.Instructors have the capability to spread dependability and bravery among pupils,maintaining tasks that boost the vitalnecessities of these pupils .