EXPLORING THE STUDENTS' SELF-CONFIDENCE IN THE ENGLISH PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASSROOM

Adzani Fatimah Az-Zahroh Yuwono, Febti Ismiatun, Ali Ashari

Abstract


This study explores students' self-confidence in the English Public Speaking classroom, focusing on five performative aspects: voice projection, eye contact, body language, facial expression, and emotional control. A mixed-methods approach with a sequential-explanatory design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through a validated Public Speaking Self-Confidence Questionnaire administered to 33 third-semester English Education students at Universitas Islam Malang. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the strongest and weakest aspects of self-confidence. Three students with the highest confidence scores were then selected for semi-structured interviews to explore their perceptions and experiences. Results indicate that voice projection is the strongest aspect (mean: 12.21), while emotional control is the weakest (mean: 9.97). Eye contact, body language, and facial expression fall into medium confidence levels. Thematic analysis of interview data revealed five main themes: (1) Building Self-Confidence through Practice, (2) Transformation from Fear to Self-Confidence, (3) The Role of the Audience and Environmental Context, (4) The Importance of Feedback and Evaluation, and (5) Self-Belief and Positive Mindset. These findings align with Bandura’s (1997) self-efficacy theory, demonstrating how mastery experience, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and physiological states interact in EFL public speaking contexts. Self-confidence in public speaking is a multidimensional and dynamic construct that can be developed through consistent practice, supportive environments, constructive feedback, and positive self-belief.

Keywords: self-confidence, public speaking, voice projection, eye contact, body language, facial expression, emotional control, mixed-methods


Full Text:

PDF

References


Asnaini, A., Prasiska, C., Tohamba, P., & Rusli, T. I. (2025). Self-confidence factors of EFL students in speaking class: A case study in higher education. Klasikal: Journal of Education, Language Teaching and Science, 7(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.52208/klasikal.v7i1.1263

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman.

Bondarchuk, J., Dvorianchykova, S., Yuhan, N., & Holovenko, K. (2025). Strategic approaches: Practical applications of English communication skills in various real-life scenarios. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(3), Article 2025100. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025100

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Burgoon, J. K., Guerrero, L. K., & Floyd, K. (2016). Nonverbal communication. Routledge.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Eni, N., Warastri, N. T., Ilhami, M. R., & Sari, R. (2024). The influence of self-confidence in public speaking. Journal of Social Development, 2(2), 183–192. https://doi.org/10.20527/jsd.v2i2

Gale, J., Alemdar, M., Cappelli, C., & Morris, D. (2021). A mixed-methods study of self-efficacy, the sources of self-efficacy, and teaching experience. Frontiers in Education, 6, Article 750599. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.750599

Gallego, A., McHugh, L., Penttonen, M., & Lappalainen, R. (2022). Measuring public speaking anxiety: Self-report, behavioral, and physiological. Behavior Modification, 46(4), 782–798. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445521994308

Gebre, M. (2024). Assessing the factors contributing to students' public speaking anxiety during classroom presentations. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 13(5), 86–97. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20241305.12

Gordani, Y., Arabani, A. S., & Moghtader, I. J. (2021). Communication anxiety and self-confidence among learners of English as a foreign language: The role of learning cooperatively. Global Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 11(4), 257–270. https://doi.org/10.18844/gjflt.v11i4.6114

Grieve, R., Woodley, J., Hunt, S. E., & McKay, A. (2021). Student fears of oral presentations and public speaking in higher education: A qualitative survey. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45(9), 1281–1293. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1948509

Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B., & Cope, J. (1986). Foreign language classroom anxiety. The Modern Language Journal, 70(2), 125–132. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4781.1986.tb05256.x

Ismiatun, F., Ni'mah, D., & Sholihah, F. A. (2024). Strategically speaking English: Upgrading public speaking skills through strategy training in high schools. ABDIMAS: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat, 7(4), 1455–1463. https://doi.org/10.35568/abdimas.v7i4.5140

Jean-Pierre, J., Hassan, S., & Sturge, A. (2023). Enhancing the learning and teaching of public speaking skills. College Teaching, 71(4), 219–226. https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2021.2011705

Khalidah, N. D., Ni'mah, D., & Ismiatun, F. (2023). What speaking strategies are used by high-proficient EFL students? A case study. Jurnal Penelitian, Pendidikan, dan Pembelajaran, 18(6).

Lee, J. S., & Lee, K. (2020). Affective factors, virtual intercultural experiences, and L2 willingness to communicate. Language Teaching Research, 24(6), 813–833. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168819831408

Li, Y., King, R. B., & Wang, C. (2024). Boosting learners' confidence in learning English: Can self-efficacy-based intervention make a difference? TESOL Quarterly, 58(2), 485–518. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.3292

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE Publications.

Lucas, S. E. (2018). The art of public speaking (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

Mastiasa, M., Saehu, A., & Ardiasih, L. S. (2023). Improving students' speaking confidence and fluency using guided speaking technique with heading and sub-heading. Journal of Education Research, 4(3), 456–465.

McCroskey, J. C. (1977). Oral communication apprehension: A summary of recent theory and research. Human Communication Research, 4(1), 78–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.1977.tb00599.x

Nguyen, T. T., & Tong, T. T. N. (2024). Investigation into difficulties in public speaking among English-majored students. International Journal of Language Instruction, 3(1), 17–30. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijli.24312

Rosyadi, N. F., Dewanti, D., Fadhilah, N., & Alfarisy, F. (2022). The confidence level of applied foreign languages students in English public speaking. COMSERVA Indonesian Journal of Community Services and Development, 1(11), 1031–1046. https://doi.org/10.36418/comserva.v1i11.149

Sugiyono, P. D. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif Kualitatif dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Thornbury, S. (2005). How to teach speaking. Longman.

Tridinanti, G. (2018). The correlation between speaking anxiety, self-confidence, and speaking achievement. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 6(4), 35–43. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.6n.4p.35

Wahyuningsih, S., & Afandi, M. (2020). Investigating English speaking problems. European Journal of Educational Research, 9(3), 967–977. https://doi.org/10.12973/EU-JER.9.3.967

Wang, Y., & Sun, P. P. (2024). Development and validation of scales for speaking self-efficacy. PLoS ONE, 19(1), e0297517. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297517

Wicaksono, B. H., Ismail, S. M., Sultanova, S. A., & Abeba, D. (2023). EFL learners' voices about self-assessment, self-efficacy, grit tendencies, academic resilience, and academic demotivation. Language Testing in Asia, 13(1), Article 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-023-00252-2

Zhang, L., Zou, Y., & Wang, Y. (2024). The effect of co-regulation on English public speaking self-efficacy in collaborative oral presentations. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1423607. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1423607


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.