An examination of the effectiveness of an oral communication apprehension reduction program in an ESL class for graduate student

Oral performance skills are essential to success in graduate school. However, many non-native students indicate a lack of confidence when speaking English. This anxiety may cause avoidance or poor performance. Given this situation, would a communication apprehension (CA) reduction program like those administered by speech communication departments be effective if adapted for ESL classrooms? A semester-long CA reduction program was implemented in a graduate-level ESL course. It incorporated goal setting, progress report journals, and guided small group discussion into the communicative task-based framework of this academic skills class. Student CA was measured using the PRCA-24 (McCroskey, 1982) at the beginning and end of the semester. Student responses to the survey were compared to a control ESL class. Results showed that all students reported a significantly higher amount of apprehension in English than in their Ll. The quantitative data did not provide definitive support for the effectiveness of the CA reduction program. However, the qualitative data indicated that students perceived less CA at the end of the semester. This study addresses the theoretical overview of communication apprehension and treatment strategies. A detailed explanation of the activities in the anxiety treatment program will be provided, as well as examples of student communication goals, journal entries, and questionnaire responses.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English as a Second Language

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

1994

Author dc:creator

• Schirra, Kathleen Noelle

Contributors dc:contributor

• Davidson, Fred

• Teaching English as Second Language
• Communication apprehension (CA)
• ESL
• Oral performance skills
• Graduate-level course

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by Kathleen Noelle Schirra, 1994

Language dc:language

eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125918

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/125918