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

Abstract

Abstract: This study was carried out due to the low level of English proficiency that Ecuadorian students have, being the oral skill considered the most difficult to improve, for that reason, it was aimed to identify which linguistic and emotional factors have impact on the oral communication of EFL students. The research took place in a public school in the city of Huaquillas, province of El Oro. For this research, a mixed method with qualitative and quantitative approach was used. The sample consisted of 52 students of the second year of high school and an English teacher. The instruments used in this research were a students survey, a teacher s survey, a semi-structured interview, and class observation sheets whose data were presented in tables. The results revealed that the factor that most influences students' oral communication skills is thinking first in Spanish, which triggers other difficulties, both linguistic and emotional, such as not being able to speak fluently and accurately, affecting their confidence when speaking. Additionally, emotional factors such as anxiety, tension and being afraid of making mistakes also influence when students speak in English.