AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN SPEAKING ENGLISH IN THE CLASSROOM

Abstrak

Speaking is considered one of the most important skills in learning English as a foreign language. Through speaking, students are able to express their ideas, opinions, and feelings in communication. However, many students still experience difficulties when they are asked to speak English in the classroom. These difficulties may be caused by several factors such as limited vocabulary, lack of confidence, fear of making mistakes, and limited opportunities to practice speaking. The purpose of this study is to analyze the difficulties experienced by students when speaking English in the classroom. This study used a qualitative research approach. The participants of this study were three senior high school students who were learning English as a foreign language. The data were collected through interviews to understand students’ experiences and opinions about speaking English in the classroom. The results of this study show that students face several difficulties when speaking English. These include limited vocabulary, lack of confidence, fear of making mistakes, and limited speaking practice. These factors influence students’ participation in speaking activities and affect their speaking performance. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that both linguistic and psychological factors influence students’ speaking ability. Therefore, teachers are expected to create a supportive classroom environment that encourages students to practice speaking more actively.