The aim of this study is to discuss the needs of learners who stutter (LWS) in the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English as a foreign language (EFL) learning based on their levels of anxiety, and their experiences as individuals who stutter in the process of learning this language. To this end, the anxiety of these students (n = 16) in the foreign language was measured using the Foreign language classroom anxiety scale (FLCAS), and the Specific language skills anxiety scale (SLSAS), whilst their experiences were elicited through semi-structured interviews. Their foreign language anxiety (FLA) levels were then compared to those obtained from a control group of non-stuttering learners (n = 16), and interview content was scrutinised mainly using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). LWS scored significantly higher in FLA and speaking anxiety than the control group; however, no significant differences were found between both groups in other language skills. Findings from the qualitative study also indicated that reading aloud was highly problematic for these learners. Suggestions to attenuate anxiety in LWS are offered to educators.

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Este trabajo fundamentalmente cualitativo explora la interrelación entre disfemia, ansiedad en una lengua extranjera (ALE), y aprendizaje de inglés para identificar las áreas de mayor dificultad de aprendizaje en estudiantes disfémicos adolescentes y adultos españoles aprendices de esta lengua. De una muestra de treinta y dos alumnos, dieciséis con disfemia (ACD) y dieciséis sin disfemia (ASD), se analizaron entrevistas realizadas con los primeros, y se compararon sus respuestas con las de los ASD a dos escalas de ALE. Los resultados indican que la disfemia y la ALE afectan al aprendizaje lingüístico de los ACD negativamente, provocando el rechazo de su identidad lingüística. La lectura en voz alta y la interacción oral frente al profesor y el grupo clase fueron las áreas más problemáticas con niveles de ALE significativamente mayores en ACD. Ello subraya la necesidad de implementar prácticas pedagógicas que reduzcan la ALE de estos estudiantes y refuercen su auto-concepto. Palabras claveDisfemia, ansiedad en una lengua extranjera (ALE), aprendizaje y enseñanza del inglés como lengua extranjera, destrezas lingüísticas.