Factors that influence high school students' English oral communication skills in Ecuadorian face-to-face learning environments

Abstract

Abstract: The ability to speak English is a great challenge for students of English as a foreign language, where various factors influence the development of learning. For this reason, the present work was developed with the objective of determining the linguistic and emotional factors that influence the oral communication skills in English of high school students in face to-face learning environments. Data was collected from 40 high school sophomores using the mixed method with the help of surveys, classroom observation, and interviews. The survey data was analyzed quantitatively and the interviews and observation classes qualitatively, where it was shown that the linguistic factors affecting EFL students is mainly the lack of vocabulary, which causes students to use incorrect grammar, poor pronunciation and causes mother tongue interference. Regarding the emotional factors that presented difficulties were the lack of motivation, which caused the fear of making mistakes, anxiety and lack of confidence.