Abstract
Research has been completed which shows the extent of oral communication apprehension among Japanese and American university students. Among the Americans approximately 20 percent have high apprehension1 and in Japan about 40 percent are highly apprehensive in oral encounters2.
Little appears to be known about apprehension in other countries. To date the research has been bound to the American and Japanese cultures. One wonders how extensive is apprehension among college students in those parts of the world not yet studied.
This study reports on the incidence of apprehension among Korean university students and compares the Koreans with the students of Japan and America. Before reporting the findings, it seems necessary to explain what communication apprehension is and to note its negative impact on people's academic, economic and social lives, at least the impact on North American people's lives. The research has been largely directed to that group and the conclusions have been well documented3.
