Exploring the Influence of Neuroticism on Speaking Skills in International Lecture Classes

Sarah, Salvania al-Hisani
Hidayat, Nur

Indonesian Journal of English Teaching
Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026): July

Neuroticism, as one of the Big Five personality traits, may influence students’ speaking ability through its association with speaking anxiety and individual differences in language-learning experiences. This study aims to analyze the comparative speaking skills between students with neurotic and non-neurotic personalities and identify the correlation of the influence of neuroticism on speaking skills in the context of international lecture classes, using a mixed-methods design to explore the personality traits associated with neuroticism, such as anxiety, worry, emotional sensitivity, and stress reactivity, which may influence speaking skills in international classes. Twenty-eight students participated in this study, categorized into two groups based on neuroticism levels, and their speaking test scores were compared with their neuroticism scores. Data collection techniques used in this study were the standard Big Five Inventory (BFI) personality questionnaire, a speaking skills test, and interviews. A total of 28 students completed the questionnaire, and 2 students from the international lecture class participated in the interviews. To analyze the quantitative data, the researcher used inferential analysis, while the qualitative data were analyzed using the analysis technique proposed by Miles et. al, which consists of data reduction, data display, conclusion drawing, and verification. Statistical results showed that neuroticism did not have a significant influence on speaking skills. Moreover, the interview results revealed varying patterns based on perspective and direct emotional experiences. Students with high neuroticism reported lower speaking skills, while students with low neuroticism tended to be more confident in their speaking skills. This condition suggests that speaking skills can be influenced by many factors other than neuroticism. In this case, neuroticism influences emotional experiences during speaking, but it cannot be used as a benchmark for the quality of a person's speaking skills.