Perspectives EFL Students’ Difficulties in Speaking: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

This descriptive research describes the speaking skills difficulties and different strategies applied in an EFL classroom in a private school in Ecuador. The study collected quantitative and qualitative data from the participants' responses obtained from a survey. The participants were 59 first-baccalaureate students with A2 English level whose ages ranged between 15 to 17 years. Results demonstrated that students have a good intonation of questions with a mean of 2.17 and good intonation in sentences (2.29). Moreover, it is noticeable that learners develop their strategies and activities inside and outside the classroom. Students applied the pair-work activity outside the classroom (2.59). The interaction facilitated them to develop the skill in a real-life context. Most of the time, students applied the pair-work activities whose perspectives showed great use of this technique (1.68). Teachers and researchers could have the opportunity to consider this study as a guide to establish a better curriculum that could focus on students' actual knowledge and concerns to help them to improve in their speaking skills.

Keywords: SPEAKING SKILLS, SPEAKING STRATEGIES, SPEAKING DIFFICULTIES, EFL, DESCRIPTIVE STUDY.