Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that affect learners’ motivation towards the
Speaking skills at General Tadese Biru secondary school. To achieve the objectives of this
research descriptive research design was used. This helped the researcher to employ both
quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The participants of the study were75
students who were selected by employing sample random sampling system. Data required for
the study were collected through questionnaire, interview and textbook analysis. Among these,
questionnaire and interview were principal tools, and were supplemented by textbook analysis.
The students were questioned and interviewed. In order to provide supportive data, grade ten
English text book speaking lesson was analyzed. The data from the above sources were
synthesized and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively, using interpretations and
percentile, which in turn were supported by the responses of the selected participants. The
results of the study revealed that students might lack motivation mainly due to the following
possible reasons: wrong perception towards the importance of speaking skill, poor knowledge of
the English language, lack of goal orientation, lack of interest, lack of confidence, fear of making
mistake, attitude towards the self-belief, wrong attitude towards the speaking activities and
difference between learning materials and need of the learners. Furthermore, the finding of the
study suggested that many behaviors and strategies which motivate the learners. The major
conclusions are students’ lack of goal orientation, wrong perceptions towards the importance of
speaking skills, and attitudes toward the speaking skills. Based on the above mentioned findings
and conclusions, appropriate recommendations have been forwarded on the major findings.
