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

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigates the factors that influence high school student s oral communication skills in face-to-face learning environments; in terms of emotional and linguistic factors. This research was conducted in a private high school in Chordeleg-Azuay. The participants in this research were; one English teacher and 40 high school students who are enrolled the in second and third year of bachillerato. This research used a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative), and the instruments to collect the data were a questionnai teachersteacher and students, a semi-structured interview for five students chosen randomly and an observation English-speakingnglish speaking classes. The main finding in this research shows that linguistic factors mostly affect negatively student s oral communication skills due to their lack of knowledge in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciato tion, but it is necessary also consider that emotional factors like shyness, nervous, lack of confidence and fear of make mistakes when practicing pronunciation are the principal factors that influence negatively in student s oral production.