Malaysian Undergraduates’ Dilemma in Communication: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This paper deals with communication apprehension among Malaysian undergraduates as one of the causes for poor communication skills, which has caused unemployment. This challenge is particularly in public speaking, which hampers learners’ ability to perform oral assessments in both online and face-to-face settings. A pilot study examined communication apprehension levels among 47 tertiary learners enrolled in Business Administration and Hotel and Tourism Management programmes at a public university in Sabah. The quantitative study employed the Communication Anxiety Inventory, which comprises two components: Form-Trait, a 21-item self-report measuring general communication apprehension across three contexts, and Form- State, a 20-item assessment evaluating anxiety responses in specific communication situations. Findings revealed a high percentage of both general trait and state communication apprehension among the respondents, with 76.6% and 61.7% respectively. A moderate positive correlation was also observed between trait and state apprehension (r = 0.48, n = 47, p = 0.01). Public speaking emerged as the most anxiety-inducing context, with the highest trait apprehension mean score of 2.82. Given that many Malaysian ESL undergraduates struggle with communication apprehension, particularly in public speaking, tertiary institutions should revise communication courses to better equip students with essential language and communication skills necessary for employability.