COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND PEER SCAFFOLDING TO OVERCOME SPEAKING APPREHENSION IN ESL/EFL STUDENTS
Abstract
Speaking apprehension is a common issue among ESL/EFL students, often caused by fear of making mistakes, lack of confidence, and anxiety in front of peers. This paper explores how collaborative learning and peer scaffolding strategies can help reduce speaking anxiety and improve oral communication skills. Collaborative learning allows students to work in supportive groups, encouraging participation and mutual understanding. Peer scaffolding, where students guide and support each other during tasks, helps create a safe and low-pressure learning environment. Together, these approaches promote learner confidence, build fluency, and increase motivation. The paper concludes that incorporating collaborative and peer-supported activities into language classes can be an effective way to overcome speaking apprehension and boost learner engagement.
Keywords
Speaking apprehension, collaborative learning, peer scaffolding, ESL students, EFL students, speaking skills, language anxiety, learner interaction, oral fluency
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