Tackling Presentation Anxiety among ESL University Students

Presentation anxiety is a common challenge among tertiary students, particularly those in English as a Second Language (ESL) contexts, where limited language proficiency, fear of negative evaluation, and cultural influences often undermine learners’ confidence and communication skills. This paper explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a supportive mechanism to reduce presentation anxiety and enhance oral performance among ESL students. Drawing on recent literature, the review focuses on three key areas: personalised AI-driven speech coaching, real-time feedback, and the provision of secure practice environments. Findings show that AI-powered speech coaching tools can assist learners in improving pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical accuracy that foster greater confidence. AI advantages like real-time feedback mechanisms, including speech analysis and visual feedback, provide immediate, private, and constructive corrections that reduce anxiety. Moreover, AI-enabled practice platforms create safe, judgment-free environments in which learners can rehearse repeatedly, experiment with self-expression, and build self-efficacy before performing in real-life settings. Collectively, these elements contribute to lowering affective filters, enhancing communication competence, and encouraging self-directed learning. However, while AI shows promise as a supplementary support system, the review emphasizes the importance of balancing technology use with human interaction, ensuring that emotional, cultural, and pedagogical needs are also addressed. The paper concludes that integrating AI into ESL learning holds significant potential for mitigating presentation anxiety, yet calls for further empirical research to assess long-term impacts and best practices for its sustainable adoption in higher education.