From Psychological Constructs to Socio- Cultural Dynamics: Moroccan EFL Students’ Communication Apprehension

Abstract

Communication apprehension is one of the communicative problems and psychological variables that interfere with Moroccan EFL communicative competence and performance. Although the causes of communication apprehension are well established in literature, they are attributed much more to psychological constructs such as the fear of negative evaluation and low self-esteem rather than to the socio-cultural constructs. From this perspective, the present paper aims at reconceptualizing the construct of speaking anxiety from a socio-cultural dimension. To this end, this study aimed at exploring 78 Moroccan EFL students’ perceptions at the faculty of languages, Art and humanities, Ibn Tofail through the use of a five-point Likert scale and semi-structured interviews. Results showed that both psycholinguistic and socio-cultural factors are two major causes of students’ communication apprehension.