Exploring EFL Students’ Anxiety Toward Uploading Video Assignments on Social Media: A Thematic Analysis

Abstract

The increasing integration of social media into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning has encouraged the use of video-based speaking assignments to promote authentic communication and enhance student engagement. However, many students remain reluctant to upload their speaking videos to social media platforms. This study explores EFL students’ experiences of uploading English-speaking video assignments to social media and examines the factors contributing to their anxiety in digital learning environments. Employing a qualitative approach, the study involved ten EFL students who participated in semi-structured interviews and written reflections. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in students’ experiences and perceptions. The findings revealed two major themes. First, anxiety and fear of negative evaluation emerged as the primary barriers preventing students from uploading their videos. Participants expressed concerns about making pronunciation and grammatical errors, receiving negative comments, being ridiculed, and being judged by a broad and unfamiliar online audience. Second, despite these concerns, students recognized several pedagogical benefits of speaking video assignments, including opportunities for repeated practice, self-evaluation, increased confidence, and improved English-speaking proficiency. The findings suggest that students’ reluctance is driven more by the public visibility and permanence of social media exposure than by the speaking activity itself. This study extends research on foreign language anxiety by highlighting the role of social media visibility and digital self-presentation in shaping learners’ willingness to participate in technology-mediated speaking tasks. It also underscores the importance of designing supportive and psychologically safe instructional practices when integrating social media into EFL speaking activities