Students´ perceptions on the factors that influence their willingness to orally communicate in the EFL classroom in Ecuadorian high schools

Abstract

The topic under research is “Student’s perceptions on the factors that affect the student’s willingness to orally communicate in the EFL classroom in Ecuadorian high schools”, whose purpose is to know the students’ perceptions on the factors that influence their willingness to orally communicate in the EFL classroom. The research was done in an educational institution in the city of Loja. The population from which the information was drawn was 83 students from basic (8th, 9th and 10th grades) and senior sections (1st and 2st courses).The general methods for this study were Qualitative and Quantitative. A questionnaire containing seven questions regarding student’s perceptions was administered to the sample population as well as an observation sheet was completed during class observation. After the information was obtained, it was organized. Each question was tabulated and put into charts for later analysis. The analysis consisted on describing qualitatively and quantitatively the results of each one of the questions of the student’s questionnaire. Once concluded the study it could be said that the factors mostly influencing the willingness to communicate in English of our students are their lack of motivation and their level of knowledge.