Investigating EFL students' macro-language skills difficulties in speaking

Abstract

This present dissertation aims at exploring the speaking macro-language skills difficulties faced by first year English Foreign language (EFL) learners at Bejaia University. In addition, this study explores the factors that influence the learners' speaking performance as well as the different strategies teachers implement to enhance their learners' speaking skill. To reach this aim an exploratory design was used. Hence, to collect the necessary data, two main instruments namely the questionnaire and semi-structured interview were used. These instruments serve to answer the following research questions: 1) What are the challenges faced by EFL learner during the Oral Presentation? 2) What are the major factors that influence the EFL learner's speaking performance? 3) What are the strategies implemented by EFL teachers to overcome the learners 'speaking difficulties? The obtained results revealed that the participants encounter several difficulties in speaking namely in terms of, fluency, vocabulary and accuracy. In addition, the results indicated that psychological factors such as shyness, anxiety, lack of motivation, and fear of making mistakes are among the factors that influence the learners' speaking performance. Besides, teachers' classroom practices also affect the learners' performance. Regarding the strategies that teachers implement, they are rehearsal, using different activities such as role-plays, discussion, debates, and games. Finally, some pedagogical recommendations were proposed to enhance students' speaking proficiency.