Facing Some Language Impediments in Oral Expression and Comprehension Settings: A Case Study

Abstract

In today’s tech-driven globe, the role of communication and speech production has witnessed an upsurge. Teaching the language as a means of communication has become the norm in English as a foreign language (EFL) settings.  The major problem underlying this endeavour lies with first-year students’ inability to maintain spontaneous talk either in the classroom or in any context. This research aims at investigating some language obstacles that EFL students face and could be a serious handicap to the improvement of their speaking skills. The data was gathered through two questionnaires administered to both first-year EFL students and the teachers covering oral expression and comprehension courses. The findings revealed that learners experienced various barriers that hinder their performance and interaction, such as self-confidence, anxiety, lack of appropriate vocabulary, and obsessive fear of making mistakes and imperfections. Based on the results, some helpful recommendations were suggested to enhance the students’ speaking proficiency.