'It's Pre-Service Teacher's Time': Shifting the Focus of Communication Apprehension (CA) Research

摘要

Anxiety to communicate in front of public is significantly associated with how individuals cope with and adjust to the stress of apprehension. Studies across multiple disciplines have investigated connections among Communication Apprehension (CA), instructional communication (e.g. language and various discipline applications), coping strategies (e.g. computer-mediated communication features), and psychological behaviors (e.g. introvert and extrovert traits). However, there has not been yet a systematic review of this discourse to date. This study explored 23 research articles and summarized how CA and coping tend to focus much on students and little to teachers, particularly pre-service ones. The exposure on students includes CA profile, demographics, causes, and remedy approaches. Communication scholars contribute to innovation of reducing CA level using computer-mediated communication. Yet, face-to-face interactions might potentially decrease pre-service teacher's CA level taking into account his cultural background and power which he would exercise to boost his confidence. Further research on this particular topic is worth investigating in the future.