Exploring the Correlation between First-Year English Language Students’ Personality Traits and Their English-Speaking Fluency during Exams

This study explores the connection between personality traits and speaking fluency among first-year English language students at the Department of English Language and Literature, University of Dr. Moulay Tahar in Saida, Algeria, and it uses a correlational research design to achieve this goal.Data were gathered from 50 EFL students through two research tools: The Big Five Inventory questionnaire and the grades they received in their second-semester English speaking exam.Pearson's correlation coefficient was employed to determine the strength and direction of the linear relationship between personality traits and English-speaking fluency.The findings indicated that Openness and Neuroticism were significant predictors of English-speaking anxiety, with Openness being the most influential predictor.Therefore, evaluating students' personalities could help in identifying those who are more likely to experience speaking anxiety.