Factors affecting EFL student´s oral communication skills.

Abstract

Abstract:The quality of education has been diminished by different factors that have affected the communication capacity of learners. The present research focuses on the topic "Factors affecting EFL student's oral communication skills". Its objective is to Identify the factors that affect public high school students proficiency in English oral communication. This study was developed in three public high schools for the 2020-2021 academic year in Loja, Ecuador. The sample consisted of 5 teachers, with a level of experience of one to ten years, and 40 students of beginner and intermediate level. The qualitative and quantitative methods were used in order to analyze the information collected. Regarding the instruments, interviews were applied to teachers, surveys to teachers and students, and a total of 5 class observations were made. After analyzing the information given by the studied population, it is established that the main factors that affect the competence of public high school students in oral communication in English is insecurity and the fear of being made fun of by the rest of their classmates by mispronouncing words or answering questions incorrectly.