Speaking Anxiety in English Class at the Senior High School Level

This study aims to identify the types of anxiety experienced by students when learning English and the teacher’s strategy in overcoming the anxiety at one of the senior high schools in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative, with data collection techniques in the form of observation and interviews. The results showed that students experienced three types of anxiety, namely trait anxiety, state anxiety, and situation-specific anxiety. The triggering factors include fear during pronunciation, limited vocabulary, and concerns about judgment from their teacher and peers. Due to the problems, the teacher uses various strategies to reduce anxiety, such as creating a fun learning atmosphere, providing motivation, ice breaking, and learning outside the classroom. With these strategies, students become more confident and motivated in speaking English