UNRAVELLING LEARNING DIFFICULTIES IN ENGLISH ORAL COMMUNICATION AMONG VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY

This study focuses on investigating external factors contributing to their difficulties in oral communication through a case study method. The research employs purposeful sampling and involves seven SMK students with a concentration in technology and engineering as the main participants. Data collection methods include semi-structured interviews with students as primary data and semi-structured interviews with English teachers as secondary data. Additionally, data collection occurs through observation to assess students’ performance in oral English communication. Triangulation of data is used in this study to avoid bias in the obtained results. Thematic analysis is employed for data analysis.
This study's findings indicate that students have limited vocabulary, particularly in technical terms related to their vocational field. The students’ limitations in acquiring technical vocabulary led to difficulties in speaking English, which differs from similar research on English speaking difficulties at the same school level, such as junior high school and senior high school. Furthermore, difficulties in applying correct grammar and pronunciation hinder effective oral communication, ultimately affecting the fluency of vocational high school students in speaking English. Additionally, students difficult to understand their conversation partners, resulting in ineffective communication. These research findings imply the need for educators and relevant stakeholders to design effective strategies to enhance language proficiency and communication skills among vocational high school students in Indonesia.