EXPLORING THE LINGUISTIC AND NON-LINGUISTIC CHALLENGES IN ENGLISH SPEAKING AMONG ENGLISH-MAJOR STUDENTS AT DONG NAI UNIVERSITY, VIETNAM

Applied Linguistics

Speaking proficiency is widely recognized as a fundamental component of English language competence, enabling learners to participate effectively in academic, professional, and social communication. Despite receiving formal instruction in speaking courses, many English-major students continue to encounter difficulties in expressing ideas confidently and fluently. Understanding the factors that contribute to these challenges is essential for improving speaking instruction and learning outcomes. This study investigates the problems experienced by English-major students at Dong Nai University in developing English-speaking skills. A total of 65 participants were involved in the research through a questionnaire designed to identify the linguistic and non-linguistic factors influencing their speaking performance. The findings indicate that students experience considerable obstacles associated with both language-related issues and psychological or contextual factors, which collectively hinder their oral communication. Although participants demonstrated a strong willingness to enhance their speaking ability, the strategies they adopted were not sufficiently effective in overcoming these challenges. Based on the findings, the study proposes several pedagogical recommendations that may assist instructors and learners in improving the effectiveness of English-speaking instruction and practice.

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