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

Abstract

Abstract: The present study explored the linguistic and emotional factors that influence high school students' English oral communication skills in Ecuadorian face-to-face learning environments. This research was conducted in a private educational institution located in the city of Chone, province of Manabí, Ecuador. The sample consisted of one female EFL teacher and 42 high school students enrolled in the second year of high school with ages ranging from 15 to 16 years old and an A2.1 or Elementary English proficiency level. This study used a mixed research method employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. For the data collection phase, the instruments of student s questionnaire, teacher s questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and observation sheets were employed. The findings revealed that both linguistic and emotional factors have a great influence on EFL learners oral communication improvement. Notwithstanding, according to the findings, emotional factors namely anxiety, nervousness, lack of confidence, and peer pressure are the ones that mostly influence these skills in face-to-face learning environments.