Exploring the Impact of Language Anxiety on English Language Proficiency Among Moroccan EFL Students

This study aimed at exploring the impact of foreign language anxiety on language proficiency among Moroccan EFL students. The study focused on identifying the underlying causes of foreign language anxiety among EFL learners, understanding its impacts on language proficiency, and exploring potential coping strategies that students could make use of to reduce their anxiety levels. In this quantitative study, a total of 63 participants (43 males and 20 females) took part in this study by responding to the questionnaire used. The findings showed that the fear of making mistakes, fear of negative feedback or evaluation, and lack of confidence while speaking English were the primary causes of language anxiety among Moroccan EFL students. The study also found that language anxiety significantly hindered participants' speaking fluency, while reading and writing skills were less affected. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that language anxiety negatively affects academic performance and motivation to learn English. To manage their anxiety, participants reported using various strategies, such as relaxation techniques and positive thinking. The study highlights the importance of managing language anxiety in educational settings and offers practical implications for instructors to create supportive learning environments that can reduce students’ anxiety levels and facilitate language learning.