Investigating Gender Differences in Speaking Anxiety among EFL Students at the College of Basic Education, University of Duhok

The present study investigates the differences in the foreign language speaking anxiety among students in the Department of English in the College of Basic Education based on gender. The study utilizes a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative data with a total sample of 166 students and 13 teachers. The quantitative data were collected via an adopted questionnaire by Batiha (2016) that was derived from Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) developed by (Horwitz et al., 1986). The quantitative data were collected from 124 first and second-year students, while qualitative data were collected through four focus group discussions with first and second-year students, segregated by gender in which the total was 42 students. In addition, thirteen teachers were also interviewed to gain comprehensive insight into their perspective on the phenomenon. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential analysis for quantitative data, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings of the qualitative data showed no significant difference in the levels of speaking anxiety experienced by male and female students, while the qualitative data of the students showed perceived differences, with female students anticipating higher levels of speaking anxiety.