A Study on Undergraduate Students’ Speaking Difficulties

This study investigates the factors contributing to the speaking difficulties experienced by English Language Education Department 2021st undergraduate students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang. Despite prolonged exposure to English education, many students struggle with oral communication, resulting in delayed language acquisition. The research utilizes a descriptive qualitative approach, using questionnaires and interviews to identify key factors influencing students' speaking difficulties.
The findings reveal that speaking difficulties stem from three primary factors: linguistic, psychological, and sociolinguistic. Linguistic challenges include a limited vocabulary, poor pronunciation, and grammatical difficulties, which hinder students from forming coherent and fluent speech. Psychological barriers, such as anxiety, nervousness, fear of making mistakes, and low confidence, significantly impact students’ willingness to communicate in English. Sociolinguistic factors, including an unsupportive environment, lack of peer encouragement, and limited exposure to English outside the classroom, further exacerbate students' hesitation to practice speaking.