Perspectives EFL Students’ Difficulties in Speaking: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

This descriptive study aimed to determine EFL learners’ speaking difficulties from their perspective. The study included quantitative and qualitative data collected through a speaking survey. Forty-three students participated in the study; 27 females and 16 males, whose ages ranged from 13 to 41 years old, from a university, a high school, and a language school. Most of them were at a basic level, a few with a beginner and intermediate level. Results showed that most of the students feel confused when they speak spontaneously. They want to speak fluently, but they confuse the language so they become nervous when they speak in English. A mean of 3.88 showed that students feel afraid of making grammar mistakes, the lack of practice prevents students from being accurate when they speak. Additionally, a mean of 3.65 indicates that students are worried about mispronouncing words. Based on the findings, it is concluded that learners need to apply speaking strategies to improve their oral interaction. It is recommended that teachers consider the best teaching strategies to support learners' during their learning development.