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

Abstract

Abstract: The research, titled "Factors that influence oral communication skills in English of high school students in face-to-face learning environments in Ecuador", sought to identify the linguistic and emotional elements that affect the oral competence of school students in face-to-face education. The study was carried out in a public school from Loja. A mixed approach was used, incorporating quantitative and qualitative data. The Sample included forty students and two English teachers. The research used instruments, such as questionnaires for students and teachers, an interview semi-structured for students, and an observation sheet. The results revealed that Both linguistic and emotional factors significantly influence the oral communication skills in English. Among the linguistic factors, thinking in Spanish before speaking English, avoiding complex words and challenges with grammatical accuracy had a notable impact. Regarding emotional factors, the fear of making mistakes in English, anxiety and nervousness were prominent. Finally, linguistic factors show a slightly greater impact than emotional ones on the skills of oral communication.