English Communication Apprehension at the Workplace Among Private Malaysian Employees

Although English is widely used, its role as a non-native language can cause communication apprehension among employees in carrying out their professional tasks, particularly those from the Malaysian private sector. Hence, this study sought to investigate the work-related English language anxiety among the employees through the lens of McCroskey’s (1984) communication apprehension. Specifically, it explored how Malaysian private employees experienced their communication apprehension in their workplace and their coping strategies to manage this apprehension. Three respondents, selected through purposive sampling from different private sector organisations where English is used, were interviewed in collecting the data. The thematic analysis revealed that their English communication apprehension experience revolved around different types of communication patterns, English usage and its role in task performance. The findings also indicated that they employed a range of strategies consisting of their own initiatives and support from their organisations to manage their communication apprehension. It can be concluded that English communication apprehension poses challenges towards the employees’ task execution, although they can be coped with strategically. The result of this study offered a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by private sector employees in using English within professional contexts.