Factors that hinder the successful development of speaking proficiency: a research study conducted at a public colombian Caribbean university

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a qualitative study that intended to identify the problems with the oral English skills development of students in the fifth English level at a Colombian Caribbean University. Semi-structured interviews, class observations, document analyses, and research surveys were conducted in order to understand the contexts and conditions in which students developed their oral English skills in an ELF undergraduate program. The investigation comprises five categories motivation, interaction, materials, methodology, and learning expectations. The results of this research study let us realize that it is necessary to create the conditions and offer opportunities to promote verbal communication in English inside and especially outside class. Furthermore, there should be a better alignment between oral proficiency goals and instruction in the search for solving a variety of problems such as, the inadequate development of oral proficiency in English and the tendency to avoid, and even fear communicating orally. These issues are closely related to the sociocultural, institutional, and interpersonal contexts in which the studied population find themselves.