Difficulties while Speaking English as a Second Language

College of Arts
English Department
GRADUATION PROJECT
First Draft
DIFFICULTIES WHILE SPEAKING ENGLISH AS A RESULT OF LACK OF PRACTICE FACING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT AT KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY
Abstract
This study looked at students’ difficulties speaking ENGLISH as a second language due to the lack of practice facing undergraduate students in the English language department. This article presents the findings of a survey of 15 undergraduate English students and five instructors. The primary purpose is to investigate the elements that lead to pupils having difficulties learning English as their second language in universities. The conversation showed the various barriers that kids encounter in communicating, listening, reading, and writing. While studying a second language, it is vital to provide different students, irrespective of their ethnic background, with a supportive and suitable learning environment. Nevertheless, giving them access to sufficient and relevant language exposure will project a positive impact. This research seeks to address the difficulties that students tend to encounter as they learn speaking English as a second language and provide measures on how to educate learners about English language learning.
Introduction
Language is an essential component of communication. It’s impossible to imagine a civilization without language. It sharpens people’s intellect while also directing and controlling their whole actions. It is a vehicle that conveys civilization and culture. The child learns the language rapidly in the mother tongue due to the appropriate environment and continuous exposure to it. On the other hand, learning a second language involves conscious efforts and exposure to the second language learning process (Bolinger, 2018). Many elements influence the procedure of studying a second language, notably attitude, self-confidence, ambition, length of language exposure, classroom circumstances, surroundings, social background, student competence, and availability of qualified instructors.
Oral communication constitutes the vast majority of spoken data transfer in today’s modern world of mass broadcast and technological communication (Rany & Leong Lai Mei, 2017). As a result, speaking seems to be the most important of the four key language talents of hearing, reading, speaking, and writing in evaluating a student’s ability to use the language successfully.
Literature review
According to Servaes & Malikhao (2016), the world is changing towards digitalization due to globalization. Digital transformation has allowed individuals from different countries to come together and work on common problems facing them. At the center of globalization and digitalization is the importance of communication (Servaes & Malikhao, 2016). As individuals from different languages and cultures come together, they need to identify a common language that can be used to communicate. The English language has become critical for individuals in this century. English allows people of different languages to connect and transact business. Speaking in English is a skill that no one can ignore because it acts as a means of communication around the globe. According to Paneerselvam & Mohamad (2019), while other skills like listening, writing, and reading in English are equally important, speaking skill dominates because it is required in one’s daily activities (Rany & Leong Lai Mei, 2017). Idrus & Salleh (2017) see oral communication as a critical component of “soft skills” that individuals need to develop. Social skills are an advantage in the job market because social skills connect people (Paneerselvam & Mohamad, 2019).
Idrus & Salleh (2017) demonstrate that ESL learners are reluctant to use spoken language because of anxiety which results from the fear of being evaluated and the instructor's teaching approach. According to James & Cherian. (2018), the students’ sense of discomfort in the English lesson is another bodily reaction. They experienced nervousness, a loss of confidence, and bodily changes as a result of their experiences. As a result, they like to stay silent during the language learning process. They strive not to embarrass themselves by replying incorrectly; therefore, they feel it is safe to keep silent. Simultaneously, they disadvantage other pupils in the class who have a more excellent grasp of the English language (Jalaluddin & NorHashimah, 2019). They also fear that their professors would undervalue them and point out their faults before the entire class, causing personal shame for individual students. Therefore, it is critical for ESL teachers of adult learners who aren’t making the anticipated progress in figuring out what’s causing their problems, give suggestions, and, if required, provide accommodations to assist them in overcoming the hurdles to learning (Jalaluddin & NorHashimah, 2019).
Significance of Research
According to Alfallaj (2013), a majority of Saudi Arabian students might be competent in grammar and vocabulary, but a majority of them are unable to speak fluently. The inability of Saudi Arabia learners to express themselves in English limits the opportunities available for them in the global arena. It is critical to establish the reasons why students in English Language Department at King Faisal University have problems with spoken English. The research's significance lies in its highlighting the value of proper pronunciation as a too of passing information among learners. More importantly, the findings of the challenges that learners face in speaking English in Saudi Arabian universities will offer appropriate remedial activities.
Research Question
* What difficulties do students have when it comes to learning language skills?
* How do students feel about language learning and teaching?
* What ideas do students have for improving English teaching and learning?
Research Methodology
Population and Sample
A convenient sampling will be done to identify suitable participants. In a convenient sampling, an investigator draws a sample from the portion of the population close to hand. Testing the entire population, which constitutes the undergraduate students in the English language department at King Faisal University, is practically impossible since it is not easy to reach....