WHY ENGLISH FEELS FOREIGN: UNVEILING THE INVISIBLE BARRIER IN PAKISTANI HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

In Pakistan, despite English being an official language, many students are less proficient in it compared to their native language. This lack of proficiency often causes anxiety among students, negatively impacting their performance in English language classrooms. This anxiety is observed in both private and semi-government universities. The study aimed to compare the impact of anxiety in these two types of institutions and also investigated the reasons behind this anxiety and potential solutions. The research included 50 students from each sector private and semi-government universities. The findings revealed that anxiety had a stronger impact in semi-government universities across most aspects, except for writing, where private sector students experienced more anxiety. To understand the causes of this anxiety, students were asked to share their reasons. The results indicated that a highly competitive classroom atmosphere, a judgmental environment, uncooperative teachers, and insufficient practice in English were the main factors contributing to anxiety in English classrooms. To help reduce this anxiety, several recommendations were made: students should increase their practice of the language, and teachers should create a friendly and supportive environment that reduces stress and encourages students to engage more willingly in learning.