Implication of public speaking anxiety on the employability of Omani graduates

Abstract

The paper examines the implication of public speaking anxiety on the employability of Omani graduates. The study adopted a sequential, mixed research strategy, starting with in-depth interviews of teachers and managers in industry, followed by a structured questionnaire involving 200 students selected randomly from two colleges in Muscat. The statistical approach included exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and parametric tests. The study found that public speaking anxiety is widespread among students in higher education institutions in Oman, with a prevalence rate amounting to 55 percent, much higher compared to the rates reported globally. The main factors involving public speaking anxiety in these education institutes in Oman were attributed to self-confidence, foreign language anxiety, being unprepared or fear of talking in a foreign language, lack of experience, or forgetfulness/loss of memory. The implication of public speaking anxiety on employability of graduates in Oman is identified and some suggestions made based on the findings.

Keywords

• public speaking anxiety
• employability skills
• exploratory factor analysis
• oman