<![CDATA[This study explored the levels of out-of-class speaking anxiety (OCSA)experienced by Indonesian tertiary EFL students and analyzed how socio-cultural factors shape their anxiety in communication. A total of 54 tertiary EFL students from an Islamic higher education institution in Jambi Province, Indonesia participated in a survey assessing their general level of speaking anxiety outside the classroom. Following the quantitative data collection, five participants were purposely selected for semi-structured interviews to further explore how the Indonesian cultural values of Sungkan (reluctance or hesitation based on respect and social harmony) and Fear of Losing Face contribute to their psychological barriers and avoidance in spontaneous communication. The findings revealed that the students experienced a moderate level of overall speaking anxiety, with anxiety being higher when they faced uninterested interlocutors or discussed unfamiliar topics. The study also found that the socio-cultural values of Sungkan and Fear of Losing Face strongly influenced students’ out-of-class speaking hesitation, creating a “paradox of silence”, in which learners prioritized maintaining social harmony and protecting their self-image over actively engage in language practice. Practical implications of these findings for educational institutions, EFL teachers, and students within the Indonesian context are discussed.]]>
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