Anita Nurmalinda, 2201416085 (2023) STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES IN SPEAKING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (A Case Study at Eighth Graders of SMP N 4 Batang in the Academic Year 2022/2023). Under Graduates thesis, Universitas Negeri Semarang.

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Abstract

Speaking, one of the four skills language learners need to master, is a joint action between speaker and listener using words to convey ideas, information, or feeling, involving interaction to communicate with others. However, it is hard to master four skills, especially speaking skills, because of several factors. Therefore, this study aims to discover challenges and factors that influence in students’ difficulties in learning English as a foreign language, specifically in terms of speaking. The study focused on secondary students who mostly have not learned English in elementary schools. The participants were 64 eighth graders from SMP N 4 Batang. This research used a qualitative method in which classroom observations and one-on-one interviews were used to identify challenges and factors contributing to difficulties in speaking based on students and teachers’ perspectives. The results of this study indicated that the difficulties faced by students were related to linguistic and non-linguistic factors. Linguistic factors relied on having nothing to say, a lack of pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar knowledge. Meanwhile, non-linguistic factors were related to a lack of opportunity to speak English, low motivation, and anxiety, such as shyness, nervousness, and fear of making mistakes.

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