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

Abstract

Abstract:Despite the efforts implemented in recent decades, in Ecuador, the teaching and learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) remain poor in terms of to the oral performance of the students. The purpose of this study is to explore the linguistic and emotional factors that influence oral communication skills in Secondary students' English in face-to-face learning environments. The sample consisted of two English teachers and fifty-eight first and second grade students year of high school from a private educational institution located in Quito, Ecuador. Applied a mixed method approach that integrated quantitative and qualitative methodology. The data were collected through four instruments, class observation sheet, student questionnaire, teacher questionnaire and six semi-structured interviews. The The study findings revealed that among linguistic factors such as pronunciation and L1 interference influence oral dexterity. However, emotional factors such as Fear and motivation have a significantly greater influence on the abilities of oral communication of students.