INVESTIGATING FACTORS THAT AFFECT STUDENTS’ SPEAKING PERFORMANCE DURING CONVERSATION IN EFL CLASSROOM: THE CASE OF GRADE-11 STUDENTS DEGOLLO GENERAL SECONDARY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL, JAMMA.

Abstract

In this study, an attempt was made on investigating factors that affect students’ speaking performance during conversation in the EFL classroom with reference to grade 11 students in Degollo Preparatory and General Secondary School, Jamma, South Wollo, Amhara regional state. The main aim was to find out factors that affect students’ speaking performance with both students related and teachers related factors during conversation in EFL classroom. Assessment was made to identify what students do to overcome the challenges in speaking class. The researcher employed mixed research design that is both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Three data gathering techniques i.e. questionnaire, observation and interview were used to collect data. Thirty eight students were selected in simple random sampling technique for questionnaire, and ten of them were selected purposively for the interview. On the other hand, two available grade-11 teachers participated only in the interview. The quantitative data were analyzed in numerical and percentage ways; however, the qualitative data were analyzed via thematic and narrative ways of analysis. The analysis indicated that students’ related factors such as language related factors and personal problems affected their speaking performance in the speaking classroom. Besides, the teachers related factors such as educational background and the inability to provide clear instruction were posed problems on students’ speaking performance during conversation in spoken language classroom. Furthermore, some important ways of overcoming the challenges were assessed in which like, creating relaxd environment, and implementing role play in EFL classroom. Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that students’ speaking performance can be affected by both students’ related factors and teachers’ related factors during conversation in the speaking lesson. Finally, the researcher recommended that EFL teachers should create relaxed classroom environment and students must have practice in and outside of the classroom to enhance their speaking performance as foreign language learners.