Level of anxiety of male and female in the eleventh grade students in learning English at SMAN 1 Pondidaha

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the level of anxiety in male and female students, and to identify the causes of anxiety in male and female students when learning English. This study applied a quantitative design carried out in the eleventh grade at SMA Negeri 1 Pondidaha. The research subjects were 15 male students and 15 female students in the eleventh grade at SMA Negeri 1 Pondidaha. This study used a questionnaire to obtain data. The results of the questionnaire showed that most of the dominant male and female students were “somewhat anxious” in the English class. Male students were divided into three levels, namely “mildly anxious” (8 out of 15 students or 53.33%), “relaxed” (5 out of 15 students or 33.33%), and “anxious” (2 out of 15 students or 13.33%). Then female students were divided into five levels, namely “mildly anxious” (6 out of 15 students or 40%), “relaxed” (5 out of 15 students or 33.33%), “anxious” (3 out of 15 students or 20%), and “very relaxed” (1 out of 15 students or 6.66%). To sum up, there was no significant difference in anxiety levels between male and female students in this study and it was discovered that only three among six components of the causes of anxiety in this study namely male and female students’ beliefs about language learning, personal component, and classroom procedures.