CONQUERING STRESS AND ELEVATING SPEAKING SKILLS

This study explores the effects of stress and lack of confidence on the speaking of English by Libyan EFL students at the Faculty of Languages in Surman. Semi-structured interviews with fifteen students were carried out in the present study to identify some linguistic problems that enhance speaking anxiety, such as vocabulary limitation, grammatical problems, and poor idea organization. Stress was found to affect memory, concentration, and fluency, which caused hesitation, rapid speech, and lack of clarity. Strategies for improvement in speaking English mentioned by students included regular practice in a conducive environment, language learning tools, and reflection. The results support Krashen's Affective Filter Hypothesis (1982), with its call to reduce anxiety and build confidence. Thus, the study affirms that psychological support, structured practice, and opportunities for interactive learning should go hand-in-hand to achieve success in performance in speaking English. The possible future direction of this research could be to investigate the long-term impacts of these strategies across different EFL contexts.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0257/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>