EXPLORING ANXIETY IN SPEAKING PRACTICE: IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE

Abstract

The speaking anxiety obtained by students is a separate obstacle for educators. Speaking anxiety can be affected by various characteristics of students, including difficulty understanding, low self-perceived anxiety, competitiveness, and speaking activities. This affects several factors such as academic success, cognitive processes, social environment, and language learner responses Anxious English learners may not be able to skip verbal activities because their nervousness makes it difficult for them to perform well. So the purpose of this study is to find out the condition of students in speaking class performance and to find out the anxiety factors of students in speaking achievement. By articulating the main objectives, the researcher aims to offer transparency, align efforts with the broader research context, and set the stage for focused exploration into the subject matter.  The method used in this study is by qualitative method, namely by direct interviews, collecting respondents by filling out questionnaires that have been made, and using literature studies as additional data needed. The data collection needed in this study is primary data and secondary data. The primary data used is data obtained directly from the original source or where the author conducted the research. The subject in this study is SMPN 1 Kedungwuni. The results from this study are an investigation conducted by the author exploring the complexity surrounding psychological barriers faced by students. Anxiety, as an important factor, adversely affects students' speaking ability, manifesting in reduced self-confidence, doubt in participation, and a noticeable decrease in fluency and accuracy. the need for a parenting education environment that prioritizes psychological well-being in addition to academic achievement. Through in-depth analysis, it was revealed that the presence of a supportive and encouraging classroom atmosphere plays an important role in reducing the stress and fear associated with speaking tasks.