Communication Apprehension and Self-Perceived Communication Competence: A Study of Undergraduate Students in Their Final Year

Autor/in	Muftah, Muneera
Titel	Communication Apprehension and Self-Perceived Communication Competence: A Study of Undergraduate Students in Their Final Year
Quelle	In: Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning, 13 (2023) 6, S.1187-1203 (17 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Muftah, Muneera)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2042-3896
DOI	10.1108/HESWBL-08-2022-0174
Schlagwörter	Communicative Competence (Languages); Undergraduate Students; Anxiety; Self Concept; English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Nonmajors; Foreign Countries; Regression (Statistics); Saudi Arabia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Communicative competence; Languages; Kommunikative Kompetenz; Sprache; Angst; Selbstkonzept; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Ausland; Regression; Regressionsanalyse; Saudi-Arabien
Abstract	Purpose: Communication apprehension (CA) is the fear or anxiety about communicating. In addition, self-perceived communication competence (SPCC) refers to the learners' perception of their competence. CA hampers individuals' ability to communicate effectively in various communication contexts, which has an impact on their employability. Confident communicators with effective communication skills are important issues for graduation as well as desirable attributes for recruiting agencies. Given that employers value graduates who can communicate effectively in the workplace without any apprehension, this study was designed to determine the levels of CA and SPCC among final-year non-English major undergraduate students in Saudi Arabia and the extent to which SPCC could affect their CA when speaking in English with implications for their employability as the next generation of workers. Design/methodology/approach: Two survey questionnaires were administered to 70 non-English major undergraduate students in their final year employing probability random sampling to measure their CA level and to assess their SPCC in different English as foreign language (EFL) contexts. Pearson's correlation and linear regression analysis were used to investigate the relationship between CA and SPCC. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics in SPSS 21. Findings: The findings indicated a medium level of SPCC and CA. Moreover, the correlation formula revealed that there was a moderately significant association between learners' SPCC and their CA (r (70) = -0.524, p < 0.01). Through regression analysis, it was found that their SPCC could predict 27% of the variance in their CA. The moderate effect of SPCC on CA implied that students could be prepared to cope and perform in the workplace. Originality/value: Without communication, the establishment and evolution of the human community are unattainable. This aspect is more evident and crucial in the list of graduate objectives and needed outcomes for future career endeavors. The findings encourage instructors and course designers to provide many learning opportunities in pleasurable learning environments to raise students' perceptions of their competence, in turn enhancing their confidence to speak in English and ensuring a smooth transition from academia to the workplace. Based on the findings, several suggestions for future studies in the EFL context are presented. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01