HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY 2

FACULTY OF ENGLISH

MIDTERM TEST ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC: 14

Difficulties facing first-year English major students in

practising speaking skills at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2.

Student’s name : Le Thu Hien

Student’s code : 195D140231034

HANOI – 2023
TOPIC 13:

With the following research topic:

Difficulties facing first-year English major students in practising speaking skills at Hanoi
Pedagogical University 2.

- Write an abstract (150 - 250 words) for this topic.

- Write a partial report (4-6 pages) including the two following sections: introduction,
literature review

ABSTRACT

One of the most important abilities for communicating in daily life is speaking. It is
becoming more and more crucial to develop this ability when studying a foreign
language. The purpose of this study is to improve the first-year English majors at HPU2's
(Hanoi Pedagogical University 2) oral communication abilities (conversations). Twenty
female and five male juniors who are all enrolled in HPU2's English department make up
the study's sample of 25 individuals. I have used a random sample method. I used a semi-
structured interview as a data collection tool to help me meet the goals of the current
study. This study has identified four issues with speaking English: trouble pronouncing
English words, a limited vocabulary, low self-confidence, and grammatical ambiguity.
Second, the absence of knowledge and experience, the audience's focus, and the presence
of an English-speaking environment have all contributed to the difficulty in speaking the
language.

Keywords: causes, difficulties, speaking skills

INTRODUCTION

1. Rationale of the study.

The ability to speak English is recognized as a crucial language skill and a

requirement for interpersonal communication. Many people all across the world
communicate in English. People who are fluent in English can easily converse with
others. In the age of globalization, speaking English also increases one's chances of
survival. I would want to introduce the thesis topic "Research on difficulties
encountered by first-year English majors in speaking English at HPU2" for a variety
of reasons as a researcher. First and foremost, speech is the most crucial
communication ability in daily life. They are incredibly interconnected. When we
grasp what is being stated to us, we can communicate effectively. We may overlook
essential information and respond inappropriately if we do not understand spoken
language. Speaking is moreover an effective technique to give kids understandable
input, which is a crucial part of the complete language learning process. Additionally,
developing speaking skills in the classroom aids students in making the transition
from academic English to everyday English more smoothly and successfully. As a
result, I'd like to conduct this study in order to help students and teachers pay greater
attention to speaking ability. Second, Vietnamese students, particularly first-year
English majors, face significant challenges in learning and practicing English
speaking skills. They frequently become confused when speaking English due to a
lack of professional expertise, confidence, and a suitable learning approach. Morever,
the passive learning environment in high school, which featured monotonous,
repetitive classes and no engaging extracurricular activities, prevented pupils from
using and honing their English. That is the primary reason they do not achieve
effective results when learning to speak in university. After nearly four years of
studying at the English Department (HPU2), I've realized that first-year English
majors still struggle with their speaking skills. Because of the aforementioned
reasons, a study named " Difficulties facing first-year English major students in
practising speaking skills at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2." was undertaken in the
hopes of determining the issues that students generally face when speaking.

2. The aims of the study.

The following goals guided the study's execution:

In order to identify the root causes of these challenges, a survey of the teaching and
learning environment for English speaking at HPU2 was first undertaken.
Second, most students struggle to learn speaking skills, thus I'd like to identify the
most common difficulties that students face when studying English speaking skills at
HPU2.

Finally, because of the problems, many students are disinterested in learning and
practicing this skill in class; so, the study would like to offer some alternate solutions
to those obstacles. Teachers will find them particularly useful in inspiring their pupils
during speaking sessions. These ideas also seek to help students catch up with the
speed of a typical real-life dialogue, allowing them to improve their communication
skills.

3. Research questions

1. What are the challenges that first-year English Department students at HPU2 have
in speaking English?

2. What are some suggestions for helping them enhance their English speaking skills?

4.The scope of the study.

The study focuses on the difficulty of first-year English majors at HPU2 in learning
speaking skills. This study cannot cover the complete subject of speaking ability due
to time and knowledge limits, as well as a lack of reference resources. It just
addresses the most common difficulties that students have when speaking.
Furthermore, the study could not include all HPU2 students; it was confined to HPU2
first-year English majors.

5. Methods of the study

The quantitative method is utilized to shed light on the study's objectives. The data
will then be synthesized and evaluated to help identify pupils' problems and
suggestions for addressing their weaknesses.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The following theories are briefly discussed in this chapter: Definitions of speaking,
categorizations of language learning strategies, speaking instruction techniques, and
error analysis.

1. Definition

Producing, receiving, and digesting information are all parts of the interactive process
of meaning production that is speaking.Speaking is a way of expressing thoughts,
information, and emotions to other people. It is the most fundamental method for a
person to communicate through language. Speaking is described as "saying things,
expressing thoughts aloud, and using the voice." Speaking, like writing, is a useful
talent. It entails utilizing speech to convey meaning to others. Because speaking is
such a complex ability, students may require extensive preparation. Prior to speaking
freely, they should practice the vocabulary they will need, as well as how to organize
their ideas and what they want to say, say new words and expressions aloud, and carry
out a task. Beginners and young learners in particular can need some time to digest
and assimilate all of the new language they hear before speaking it. Speaking is the
use of words to express and convey thoughts and emotions. Speaking is a method of
conveying thoughts. This is organized and grows in response to the needs of the
listener

2. The importance of Speaking skill

Humans, as a social organism, are always communicating with one another. It can
happen throughout the process of exchanging thoughts or ideas, which includes
encounters. For example, sharing information or news, requesting people for
assistance with their needs, and so on. All of them can be accomplished by
communicating directly to others. It signifies that the act of speaking plays a critical
function in human life.

Speaking abilities are one of the most crucial skills required to properly complete the
learner's English study, but they are also the most challenging and troublesome for
students. English, as a universal global language, has maintained its leadership
position throughout its evolution. Speaking abilities in English are considered a
bridge to interact, share, communicate information, and serve diverse purposes
between countries, and it is vital for everyone to be fluent and stay up with the times,
especially in the context of inter-country discussions.

3. English Language Learning Difficulties

Speaking English proficiently in everyday contexts or in formal settings is a language

proficiency that every foreign language learner must acquire. The majority of
individuals are learning English, and their success is determined by how well they can
converse in English. Speaking requires that speakers be aware of a number of things
or possess knowledge of language mechanics (pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary),
language functions (asking for something, extending a greeting, receiving permission,
etc.), and socio-cultural norms (turn-taking, rate of speech, duration of pauses, etc.).
As a result, mastering speaking is considered the most challenging skill in a second
language. When it comes to acquiring speaking abilities, students face a variety of
challenges. According to Ur (1991), the following issues students confront when
learning to speak: Inhibition, silence, low or inconsistent participation, and usage of
mother tongue.

Many students have graduated from high school but lack adequate English speaking
skills, resulting in numerous difficulties and disorientation. This may cause dread and
loss of enthusiasm to learn English, especially for students who intend to major in
English at university; if they do not find a means to tackle such problems in a timely
manner, they will face numerous challenges. As a result, the research topic
"Difficulties confronting first-year English major students in practicing speaking
skills at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2" will learn about the challenges, students'
concern in practicing speaking skills, and the impact in a timely manner.

First-year English majors are chosen in particular because they have just graduated
from high school and have begun a new chapter in their lives, becoming acquainted
with and exposed to the university lecture hall. This is a significant turning point,
especially if they intend to major in English. As a result, they will undoubtedly face
greater challenges than pupils in year 2.3. Because this is a difficult subject, they must
be observed and responded to as soon as possible. Speaking skills are especially
important in today's society, despite the fact that they are less accessible and covered
in depth in school. First-year students begin their studies at university and progress to
higher levels of study.

4. Research of Speaking

A qualitative research approach was used to carry out this study at the Hanoi
Pedagogical University 2's faculty of English. Undergraduate English majors in their
sixth and eighth semesters served as the study's subjects. Using a purposeful sampling
technique, fifteen participants were chosen who spoke less fluently (participants'
speaking skill was evaluated based on how they presented themselves in class). Since
the researcher was a member of the English faculty and frequently observed
presentations and spoken fluency in the classroom, I chose participants who were
having trouble speaking. Open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured participant
interviews were used in this study to collect data.

Each student was primarily asked two questions. 1) What are your speaking
difficulties? Please make a list of at least ten points. 2) What are the root causes of
problems? Mention at least five causes of difficulty speaking. Students were also
interviewed using semi-structured interview techniques in addition to this
questionnaire. The survey was created in Google Forms and delivered by email and
messenger. The interview was conducted over the phone, and it was recorded with
their permission.

Participants were asked to participate in an interview after getting the questionnaire,

and each interview had a time limit of no more than 20 minutes. The interview was
done in Vietnamese. The interview was translated so that the themes from the
interviews could be formed.

After that, based on the students' responses to the questionnaire and interview, the
data were grouped into speaking challenges, their causes, and recommendations for
improving English speaking abilities. For further analysis, the data were divided into
issues and causes. Finally, for further analysis and discussion, their speech challenges
are placed in one category and the reasons of speaking difficulties in other categories.
 REFERENCES

1. https://tailieumau.vn/difficulties-facing-first-year-english-majors-in-english-
speaking-skill-9d/
2. Challenges Faced by Bachelor Level Students While Speaking English -
Gambhir Bahadur Chand