ABSTRACT
An analysis of the problem of Language Attitude Anxiety (LAA) enables us to create a platform where we can intervene strategically to remedy the problem. Learners’ lack of confidence is a manifestation of the effects of LAA. ‘A Confidence Building Course to Speak English’ has been developed with the objective of building student confidence to speak English through the use of speaking activities. The approach is psychological because the lack of confidence, fear, shyness and uncertainty are psychological states. English language learners in post-colonial South Asia experience LAA as a result of negative experiences in their language learning/speaking history, which causes a lack of confidence to speak English. The fear of speaking is addressed in the confidence building course by using speaking to build learner confidence with specially designed material and specifically trained teachers with a proper understanding of what is required to teach this type of learner.
