INTRODUCTION
Rationale
English is the most widely spoken and influential language globally, serving as a key medium for sharing scientific and technological information It acts as a powerful unifying factor in both national and international contexts, connecting people through information technology and modern communication As one of the major global languages, proficiency in spoken English is essential, especially in meetings or conferences where participants may not share a common language.
When learning English, students typically concentrate on four key skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with speaking being the most crucial Developing speaking skills requires conscious effort, especially for those learning a second language As Rumi wisely noted, “speak a new language so that the world will be a new world.” Mastering spoken English can significantly impact various aspects of life, including career advancement, business success, and personal relationships.
English majors in their sophomore year at Tay Do University encounter significant challenges in developing their speaking skills A primary issue is their limited vocabulary, which hinders their ability to articulate thoughts and opinions effectively Additionally, frequent grammatical errors further complicate their communication with native English speakers.
Many students learning English as a second language often struggle with pronunciation and intonation Additionally, having a solid background knowledge is crucial for effective communication, as it enables learners to understand new concepts and experiences Lastly, psychological barriers can significantly hinder students' ability to communicate effectively.
Recognizing these problems, I decide to conduct this research to find out problems in learning speaking skill of sophomores majoring in English at Tay Do University
1.2 The organization of the proposal
The proposal consists of five chapters
Chapter 3: Research aim – Research question – Hypothesis
LITERATURE REVIEW
The definitions of speaking
Language serves as a vital medium for sharing information, thoughts, and cultural heritage across generations and nations In today's globalized society, English has emerged as the most significant foreign language Among the essential skills in English, speaking proficiency stands out, as the inability to communicate fluently hinders effective expression of one's ideas to others.
Speaking is a vital form of verbal communication primarily used for interpersonal and transactional purposes, allowing individuals to express their thoughts and feelings It is an interactive process that involves producing, receiving, and processing information, making it a productive skill essential for effective communication Mastery of speaking requires a strong command of vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and intonation, as well as background knowledge Ultimately, speaking enables individuals to convey messages thoughtfully and passionately, highlighting its importance in effective communication.
Speaking involves constructing and conveying meaning through both verbal and non-verbal symbols across various contexts It is the act of producing words that are comprehensible to listeners, facilitating effective communication.
“speaking as a language skill which is developed in childhood preceded with listening skill” (Tarigan (1990:3-4) It means that speaking is the basic skill in learning language
English is the most widely spoken language worldwide, with many individuals learning it to enhance career opportunities, job security, and effective communication In essence, speaking is the ability to convey messages verbally in a clear and appropriate manner, allowing individuals to express their ideas, feelings, and opinions on various topics.
The importance of speaking
In today's interconnected world, the significance of English cannot be overlooked, as it is the most widely spoken language globally Advancements in technology have further enhanced the role of English across various sectors such as medicine, engineering, and education Video calls enable us to communicate with people from different countries, providing an excellent opportunity to improve our speaking skills and foster connections within our communities Consequently, developing strong speaking abilities is essential, as it facilitates understanding, self-expression, social growth, and conflict resolution in both personal and professional contexts.
In today's world, effective speaking skills are crucial for students, as they facilitate communication in both professional and personal settings Proficiency in English can significantly impact job prospects and career advancement, with those lacking fluency potentially missing out on valuable opportunities A solid foundation in English is essential for university students, enabling them to engage and share knowledge with international partners in the future As Nunan (1991) states, "success is measured in terms of the ability to carry out a conversation in the language," highlighting the importance of mastering speaking skills for overall success.
Lack of speaking opportunities in language classrooms can lead to demotivation and decreased interest in learning Ultimately, speaking is essential for integrating into new communities and cultures, fostering personal development.
Factors affecting speaking skill
Learning English is a popular pursuit, yet mastering it can be quite challenging, particularly when it comes to speaking Students often encounter several difficulties in this area, including issues with vocabulary, grammar, background knowledge, pronunciation, intonation, and psychological barriers.
Many English learners struggle to express their thoughts due to a limited vocabulary, which hinders effective communication According to Schmitt (2000), "lexical knowledge is central to communicative competence and to the acquisition of a second language." A lack of vocabulary not only prevents learners from maintaining conversations but also affects their overall fluency While some students may possess a large vocabulary, they often struggle to apply it appropriately in various contexts Consequently, vocabulary acquisition remains a significant challenge for students, making it a primary obstacle in their language learning journey.
Many students fear making grammatical errors while speaking, which significantly impacts their confidence and communication skills A lack of understanding of grammar structures leads to difficulties in forming complete sentences and inhibits their ability to express themselves effectively Furthermore, students often struggle to recognize and apply various English sentence structures, hindering their overall speaking proficiency.
Many learners of English struggle to apply proper sentence structures in spoken communication, often translating grammatical rules from their native language, which hinders their fluency This mental translation can lead to persistent speaking difficulties, as students grapple with various exceptions and rules in English verb forms The influence of their mother tongue's grammar frequently results in errors when constructing English sentences.
A significant challenge students face is the lack of background knowledge, which hampers their ability to express themselves effectively on new topics This deficiency can lead to misunderstandings and gaps in comprehension during conversations, resulting in disengagement Without sufficient information or opinions about the subject matter, students struggle to engage with unit topics, highlighting the critical role background knowledge plays in enhancing speaking skills Additionally, limited opportunities to practice speaking in the target language contribute to forgetting previously learned material.
Many students possess a strong vocabulary but struggle with accurate pronunciation This challenge often stems from the complexities of the English alphabet The significance of proper pronunciation is frequently overlooked, leading to difficulties in effective communication.
Many students mistakenly believe that pronunciation is less crucial than other elements of the English language, such as grammar and vocabulary However, native speakers often find poor pronunciation unpleasant and challenging to comprehend Consequently, inadequate pronunciation can significantly hinder a foreign language learner's ability to effectively communicate their ideas.
Intonation, a key aspect of linguistic prosody, refers to the variation of pitch in speech Effective intonation is crucial for clear communication, as poor intonation can lead to misunderstandings and create a negative impression Research by Munro and Derwing (1999) indicates that intonation significantly affects the comprehensibility of advanced speakers Common intonation errors include a lack of rising pitch and incorrect pitch usage, with students often struggling more with rising intonation than falling intonation Additionally, they may fail to use the appropriate pitch to express emotions, and the rhythm of sentences can further complicate their speech, leading to confusion.
Affective factors significantly influence students' psychological attitudes, including anxiety, frustration, self-doubt, and lack of motivation Mr Brown (1994) notes that anxiety is complex and encompasses feelings of uneasiness and apprehension, which can hinder the speaking process These emotional elements play a crucial role in shaping students' confidence and willingness to engage in communication.
Many students struggle with self-belief due to a lack of experience and confusion when communicating with native English speakers This fear of making mistakes often leads to hesitation in expressing their thoughts and emotions Research shows that learners who possess high motivation and self-confidence tend to perform better in speaking situations.
14 learners who lack confidence are usually not able to develop their speaking skill”
Students with low confidence often exhibit fear and timidity, making them hesitant to share their opinions and struggle to form complete, meaningful sentences during class discussions.
Hafsa Riyaz (2016) conducted a study on the challenges faced by higher secondary students in Srinagar, India, regarding English speaking skills, involving a sample of 160 respondents from various institutes A questionnaire was utilized to assess students' speaking abilities through a 20-30 minute interview, with scores graded on a scale of 0 to 5 The study included classroom observations to identify specific speaking difficulties, revealing that many students speak cautiously to ensure correct pronunciation, but struggle with accuracy when speaking quickly Grammar issues, particularly with the third-person singular form and tense consistency, were noted, as students often switched from past to present tense unconsciously Additionally, a lack of vocabulary emerged as a significant barrier to effective spoken communication among English learners.
In a 2014 study conducted by Edi Suprayitno, the challenges faced by eighth-grade students in learning English skills were examined The research involved all eighth-grade students from SMP 1 and SMP 2, highlighting the difficulties encountered in their English language acquisition.
Sumbergempol district in Tulungagung, is 70 student on SMP 1 and 45 student on SMP
2 The research instrument was a questionnaire The data were collected by distributing questionnaire to the students The results showed the students face difficulties in learning speaking Firstly, 78% of respondents difficult in make a sentence will they speak Secondly, 76 of respondents difficult to speak English fluently Thirdly, 60% of respondents difficult in imitate a word or sentence have spoke by people or teacher Fourthly, 50% of respondents in answer a question in English Fifthly, 48% of respondents difficult in arranged sentence would like to speak Sixth, 47% of respondents difficult in memorize the sentences which will speak in English Seventh, 40% of respondents difficult in choosing vocabulary will use in speaking Eighth, 37% of respondents difficult in said English word
Abedrabu Abu Alyan (2013) conducted a study on the oral communication challenges faced by English major students in Gaza, involving 20 students and 6 senior teachers from a prominent Palestinian university The research revealed that the primary issues hindering effective oral communication included incorrect pronunciation, a limited vocabulary, insufficient exposure to the target language, and interference from their first language (L1).
RESEARCH AIM – RESEARCH QUESTION – HYPOTHESIS 16
Research aim
The study is conducted to find out problems of English majored sophomores at Tay
Do University when learning speaking subject Thanks to the findings of this research, the researcher hopes students recognize their problems in speaking
This research is required to answer the question:
What are common problems in speaking process of English majored sophomores at Tay
Hypothesis
Students majoring in English at Tay Do University find speaking to be the most challenging skill to master This research suggests that these students encounter various difficulties in developing their speaking abilities, which may stem from issues such as limited vocabulary, inadequate grammar, insufficient background knowledge, and challenges with pronunciation and intonation Additionally, psychological barriers may further hinder their speaking proficiency.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Participants
This study involves 40 sophomore students from English major classes at Tay Do University, consisting of 5 males and 35 females, all of whom are native Vietnamese speakers learning English as a foreign language The primary material used for their listening and speaking skills development is the silver edition of Interaction 2 To gather insights into the challenges they encounter in their speaking coursework, participants will complete questionnaires.
Instrument
A questionnaire was utilized to gather data on the challenges faced by sophomores majoring in English at Tay Do University in developing their speaking skills The insights provided by the students are crucial for the research process, making the questionnaire an essential tool in this study.
The questionnaire is divided into two sections: the first part gathers information regarding the student's background and their attitude towards speaking, while the second part features 20 statements addressing various challenges faced by students.
Part 1 consists of 5 sentences about student’s background and student’s attitude toward speaking
Group Summary of the content of question group a 1, 2, 3 Student’s background b 4, 5 Student’s attitude toward speaking
Part 2 consists of 20 statements about students’ problems
The article addresses various challenges faced in language learning, categorized into distinct groups Vocabulary issues encompass problems related to word choice and usage, while grammar challenges focus on sentence structure and rules Additionally, background knowledge plays a crucial role in comprehension, affecting learners' ability to connect concepts Pronunciation and intonation difficulties hinder effective communication, and psychological obstacles can create barriers to language acquisition Each of these areas presents unique hurdles that learners must navigate to achieve fluency.
The participants will tick their choice on a five degree scale including strongly agree, agree, no idea, disagree and strongly disagree
Procedure
This research was done within 12 weeks and the process was divided into 3 steps in the following table:
Duration (12 weeks) Activities in study process
Step 1:from the 1 st week to 2 nd week
- Designing the framework of the research
- Looking for references Step 2 : from the 3 rd week to 7 th week
Step 3: from the 8 th week to 12 th week
- Writing chapter 4,5 and getting the teacher’s guidance
- Editing chapter 3, 4, 5 and temporary completion of the main content in the research
- The teacher checks the research and proposes some advices
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Vocabulary
A common challenge students face in speaking is a limited vocabulary, which often leads to hesitation and repetition of previously used words This lack of appropriate vocabulary hinders their ability to express themselves clearly and effectively To overcome this issue, students should aim to learn new words daily and create personalized vocabulary lists This method not only enhances their language skills but also ensures they can use contextually suitable vocabulary in their conversations.
Grammar structure
Students often struggle with grammar, which significantly impacts their ability to speak fluently A solid understanding of grammar rules is essential for effective verbal communication English grammar can be complex, making it challenging to remember and apply correctly, and improper grammar usage can lead to confusion and misinterpretation To improve their skills, students should focus on mastering different tenses and memorizing simple example sentences for each tense Additionally, engaging in practical exercises will further enhance their grammatical proficiency.
21 online exercises and keep a note of how you did and go back in a few weeks or months to see how students have improved.
Pronunciation and intonation
Students often struggle with pronunciation, which can lead to a fear of speaking and difficulty in articulating English words The complexities of English pronunciation are not always intuitive, and students' native languages can further complicate their ability to pronounce certain words correctly Additionally, varying intonations and accents can make communication challenging and may leave foreign speakers feeling confused or discouraged Recognizing these pronunciation issues, students can benefit from utilizing excellent video and audio resources available on platforms like YouTube to enhance their skills and boost their confidence in speaking English.
Students often struggle to articulate their thoughts due to a lack of background knowledge on the topics being discussed This insufficient information can lead to misunderstandings and gaps in comprehension, resulting in disengagement and boredom during conversations.
Many students hesitate to speak English due to shyness and nervousness, often stemming from a lack of confidence in their language skills This fear intensifies when they worry about making mistakes while presenting in front of their peers Additionally, students often feel insecure when conversing with others, which further inhibits their willingness to practice speaking English.
Many students experience hesitation when speaking English due to uncertainty about the correctness of their words Research indicates that a lack of confidence is a common issue among these learners To address this, students are encouraged to join English clubs, which provide opportunities for practice and help boost self-confidence in speaking.
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My name is Tran Thuy Duong, a senior majoring in English, and I sincerely appreciate your time and assistance I am conducting research titled “Problems in Learning English Speaking Skills: A Study of English Majored Sophomores at Tay Do University.” This questionnaire is designed to gather essential information from you, and I kindly ask you to complete the questions thoughtfully, as your responses are crucial to my study Thank you once again for your support!
Please read the following question and circle the appropriate answer for each question Give specific answers if needed
1/ How long you studied English? ……… years
2/ Which subject do you like best? a Listening b Speaking c Reading d Writing e Others: ………
3/ Which subject did you learn when you were in high school? a Listening b Speaking c Reading d Writing
4/ What do you think about speaking subject ? a Very important b Important c Normal d Not important e Not important at all
5/ How much time do you spend practicing listening a day? ………
Part 2 This below table is about your difficulties communicating English
Please read the following statements and mark (x) in suitable column to express your opinion
1 Vocabulary causes you difficultty in speaking
2 Grammatical errors cause your problems in speaking
3 Background knowledge has a negative effect on your speaking ability
4 You have a lot of vocabulary but they do not know how to use them in suitable situation
5 Your poor pronunciation make other people not understand you
6 You often make grammar mistakes in speaking
7 When you face unfamiliar topics, you are confused to show your thoughts because of lacking necessary information
8.You have troubles with grammar when you speak
9 You are missing some important vocabulary words and it becomes difficult to say what you are thinking
10 You often meet difficulties to express your ideas, feelings, emotions due to your poor background knowledge
11 You afraid to make embarrassing mistakes and take risks
12 You do not know to build sentence structure as you speaking
13 You often face many difficulties in speaking because your pronunciation is not good
14 You do not have enough vocabulary to express your ideas, thoughts and emotions
15 You do not know how to pronounce the words exactly when you speak
16 You are confused when speaking English with other people
17 You are not confident in speaking English
18 Poor intonation causes you troubles in speaking
19 You do not know how to express what you want to say because you lack information about the new topics
20 You feel hesitating to express their thoughts, feeling, emotion in speaking