Factors affecting EFL students oral communication skills

Abstract

Abstract:The present research shows the factors affecting EFL students oral communication skills. This study aims to determine the individual factors and pedagogical factors that affect public high school students proficiency in English oral communication skills. This study was conducted at three public high schools in San Lorenzo City, Esmeraldas province in Ecuador. The sample selected was five English teachers and 40 students from the first to the third Senior High school classes. Both the quantitative and the qualitative methods were used in this research. The data was obtained through the application of observations, surveys, and interviews. Two tables were used to consolidate the data analysis and interpretation to reveal findings related to the two research questions. At the end of this study, it was possible to determine not only the positive influence of some pedagogical factors (planning, methods, activities, resources, motivation, class monitoring, feedback, language practice, and extra activities) and students factors (motivation, anxiety, academic factors, language practice, and linguistic factors) but also the negative influence of one pedagogical factor (evaluation)