University EFL Students’ Speaking Skill: Perceptions and Challenges
Keywords:
perception, foreign language, challengesAbstract
Speaking in L2 is one of the most essential skills that EFL learners need to develop. Enhancing this particular skill poses significant challenges throughout the process of learning. Consequently, this research sought to explore students' perceptions regarding EFL speaking skills. In the current research, exclusively qualitative methods were utilised. Data was gathered through conducting semi-structured interviews with five EFL students selected from Abu-Issa Faculty of Education. Subsequently, the thematic analysis method was utilised to analyse the collected data. The findings obtained revealed that all participants perceive speaking as the most significant skill for EFL learners. They believe that achieving fluency in L2 is a goal they aspire to reach. Additionally, this research disclosed a number of significant challenges that students often encounter when practicing L2 speaking skills. These challenges encompass inadequate exposure to the target language, limited opportunities for L2 practice, in addition to the anxiety that typically associated with L2 performance.
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