Arab Educational Information Network

This study aims to examine students' reticence and highlight its possible causes in the foreign language university classroom. Fifteen Libyan students from the English department; at the faculty of education, University of Misrata, participated in this study. Interviews and focus group discussions were used for collecting data. The findings revealed some leading causes to reticence in the classroom; i.e., fear of making mistakes, lack of confidence, shyness, low English proficiency, and so on. The participants also demonstrated some needs which can be used as strategies by teachers to help reduce reticence; such as, teacher encouragement, appropriate teaching methodology, use of group work, and extending wait-time. (Published abstract)