Creating a Safe Spot to Decrease Speaking Anxiety by Using The "Milling to Music" Strategy

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Author: Gebrina Mutiara Dinura, M. Nauval Rianda, Nabila Ananda (Student of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, English Language Education Study Program, Syiah Kuala University).

Speaking anxiety often happens during situations where someone speaks in front of a crowd and becomes the center of attention. Milling to music is one of the best strategies for students who are afraid to speak in public. Many people feel connected to their favorite songs, which helps them feel at ease in public. We agree that implementing this strategy for half of the meetings might reduce students’ nervousness.

The "Milling to Music" strategy is highly effective for creating a safe and comfortable learning environment. Rather than asking students to present one by one in front of the class. This strategy allows them to practice in pairs and take turns. This is because the students are afraid of being laughed at by others, even before they try to speak. For instance, nervousness might cause a student to slip of the tongue, which could lead the whole class to laugh at them and leave them feeling embarrassed. Ultimately, replacing the traditional discussion method with peer practice helps minimize speaking anxiety and builds students' confidence.

Furthermore, the "Milling to Music" strategy helps students become confident public speakers by making them feel comfortable and relaxed. It is well known that music can calm people, improve their mood, and enhance their comfort. Moreover, Milling to Music can also act as a mini-simulation for speaking confidence. The more often students practice, the more accustomed they become, and their anxiety gradually decreases. The strategy also makes students more active and gradually builds confidence.

In conclusion, the "Milling to Music" strategy can reduce students' speaking anxiety. This is because it creates a safe and comfortable learning environment where students can practice speaking with friends rather than performing in front of the entire class. Additionally, this strategy helps students build self-assurance in a stress-free environment. Therefore, teachers are encouraged to implement this strategy in speaking classes to help students become more confident and reduce their communication anxiety.

Opinion writing is the responsibility of the author.