THE CORRELATION BETWEEN ANXIETY AND SPEAKING PERFORMANCE OF EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AT MTSN. 1 LUWU = THE CORRELATION BETWEEN ANXIETY AND SPEAKING PERFORMANCE OF EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AT MTSN. 1 LUWU

This study aims to find out what kind of factors that influence students' anxiety in speaking English and to find out the correlation between anxiety and students' speaking performance. The study was conducted on March 22, 2024, and information was collected from 31 eighth-grade students at MTsN. 1 Luwu. The writer conducted this study using a quantitative method and instruments including the FLCAS (Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale) questionnaire developed by Horwitz et al. (1986) and a speaking test with a scoring rubric adapted from Brown (2004). The result of this research showed that the most dominant type of anxiety among students is communication apprehension and there was a correlation between anxiety and English speaking performance of eighth grade students at MTsN. 1 Luwu. The finding also showed that most of the students had medium level of anxiety and low level of speaking performance. The result of this research showed that the most dominant type of anxiety among students is communication apprehension and there was a correlation between anxiety and English speaking performance of eighth grade students at MTsN. 1 Luwu. The finding also showed that most of the students had medium level of anxiety and low level of speaking performance. It can be concluded that anxiety affects students' speaking performance.

Keyword : Anxiety; Speaking Performance; MTsN. 1 Luwu