Factors causing students’ challenges in learning English speaking skills: A review of empirical works

Abstract

Young language learners encounter, comprehend, use, and learn new languages primarily through speaking, which is the active use of language to convey meaning. The spoken form serves as the primary means of language acquisition in the classroom for young learners, rather than being just one part of language acquisition. Speaking issues, however, can pose significant obstacles to effective foreign language learning and communication. No matter how much they know about the English language, students learning English as a foreign language still struggle with speaking. Numerous studies have largely disregarded oral language use in the classroom, with teachers typically using it more frequently than students. However, even when used by teachers, oral language rarely serves as a platform for students to learn new information and explore concepts. Therefore, this article aims to first understand the true nature of these problems and the contexts in which they arise, in order to develop the necessary information to address oral communication issues in an English as a foreign language setting.