Factors affecting students english communication skills

Abstract

Abstract:The present work is aimed to investigate the factors affecting student ́s English communication skills. It was developed with the general objective of identifying the pedagogical factors and individual students factors that affect public high school students proficiency in English oral communication. The participants in the study were 25 EFL high school students and 5 English teachers from a public institution in Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Ecuador. A mixed method approach was used to obtain qualitative and quantitative information. The instruments used to collect the data were observation sheets, an interview, and a survey. The survey was administered to the students, and the interview was applied to the teachers. The results show that methods, strategies, activities, and materials used in classrooms are the factors that influence the most on students to speak in classes. There isn t any technology used in classes and students are not practicing authentic language. The CD of the books and the teacher s language is the only language that they hear in classes.