<![CDATA[This study aims to investigate the relationship between learning styles and speaking anxiety among first-semester English Education Department students at Muhammadiyah University of Enrekang. Speaking anxiety is a significant barrier to language learning, often exacerbated by mismatches between students' learning styles—visual, auditory, or kinesthetic—and traditional teaching methods. To explore this relationship, a qualitative research approach was employed, with data collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis involving 18 participants. The semi-structured interviews were designed to gather students' perspectives on their learning preferences, experiences with speaking anxiety, and how these factors influenced their speaking performance. The document analysis included an examination of academic records, feedback from instructors, and reflective journals, which provided additional insights into students' speaking challenges and coping mechanisms. The findings reveal that students' learning styles significantly influence their experiences of speaking anxiety. Visual learners struggle with spontaneous speaking tasks due to their preference for preparation and reliance on visual aids. Auditory learners face challenges with pronunciation, often fearing their spoken English will not sound "correct." Kinesthetic learners, on the other hand, experience heightened anxiety in formal, non-interactive settings where they are unable to engage physically with the language. This study underscores the importance of aligning teaching strategies with students' learning preferences to reduce anxiety and foster confidence in speaking tasks. Recommendations include adopting flexible, student-centered approaches such as incorporating visual aids, auditory exercises, and interactive, movement-based tasks that cater to various learning styles. These strategies aim to create more supportive and inclusive learning environments.]]>
