Struggling to Meet Expectations: Speaking Difficulties and Strategies of EFL Students at Datokarama State Islamic University Palu

Afifah Afifah

doi:10.24239/dee.v6i2.140

Authors

Afifah Afifah Datokarama State Islamic University, Palu, Indonesia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24239/dee.v6i2.140

Keywords:

speaking difficulties, psychological difficulties, linguistic difficulties, speaking strategies

Abstract

This qualitative research employs a case study design to investigate the difficulties and strategies in speaking English encountered by third-semester students of the English Tadris Department at Datokarama State Islamic University, Palu. The participants were 30 students, and data were collected through classroom observation and semi-structured interviews. The findings categorize students’ difficulties into psychological and linguistic factors. Psychologically, students experienced nervousness, fear of making mistakes, fear of judgment, and avoidance of eye contact. Linguistically, difficulties included limited fluency, a limited vocabulary, and errors in pronunciation and grammar. To overcome these barriers, students employed various strategies such as watching English movies, listening to songs, singing along, constructing sentences with new vocabulary, using gestures for visualization, and joining English clubs. Notably, students also utilized digital tools and smartphone applications, including AI, Duolingo, Elsa Speak, Let Me Speak, HelloTalk, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This research highlights the struggles of English majors and provides insights for lecturers to improve teaching strategies and foster a more supportive learning environment.

References

Afifah, K., & Punama, Y. (2024). Strategies in Learning English Speaking Skill at English Department Students. Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris Undiksha, 11(2), 150–158. https://doi.org/10.23887/jpbi.v11i2.59133

Anggraini, F., Suprapto, I., & Hardiyanto, A. (2022). An Analysis of Students Difficulties in Speaking Skill at the Fifth Semester of University of Muhammadiyah Kotabumi Academic Year 2021/2022. Jurnal Griya Cendikia, 7(2), 289–299. https://doi.org/10.47637/griya-cendikia.v7i2.300

Azisah, R., Awalia, R., Afifah, I., & Ardiana, A. (2024). Non-English Students’ Strategies in Improving Their Speaking Skills. Professional Journal of English Education, 7(2).

Brown, H. D. (2007). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching (Fifth). Pearson Education.

Bungsu Keumalasari, Muhammad Iqbal, Farada Aulia, & Alam Fahlevi Pranata. (2024). Students’ Perception of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as English Learning Tools at MTsN 4 North Aceh. International Journal of Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 1(4), 54–66. https://doi.org/10.62951/ijeepa.v1i4.54

Cendra, A. N., & Sulindra, E. (2022). Speaking Accuracy, Fluency, and Beyond: Indonesian Vocational Students’ Voices. LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Teaching, 25(2), 379–394. https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.v25i2.4579

Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (Fourth Indian edition). Pearson.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage.

Goh, C. C. M., & Burns, A. (2012). Teaching Speaking: A Holistic Approach. Cambridge University Press.

Harmer, J. (2013). The Practice of English Language Teaching (Fourth). Pearson Longman.

Kameswara, P. A., Nashruddin, W., & Priajana, N. (2023). The Utilization of Digital Technologies in Learning Speaking Skills: Students’ Problems and Strategies at Islamic School. PANYONARA: Journal of English Education, 5(2), 137–149. https://doi.org/10.19105/panyonara.v5i2.9923

Lundquist, L. (2012). Learning Spoken English in Half the Time. Keen Solutions.

Mackey, A., & Gass, S. M. (with Safari, an O’Reilly Media Company). (2005). Second Language Research: Metodology and Design (1st edition). Routledge.

Maji, E., Samanhudi, U., & Mokoagouw, M. E. (2022). Students’_ Difficulties in Speaking English: (A Case Study in SMKN 3 Sorong). SOSCIED, 5(1).

McCormack, J., & Watkins, S. (2009). English for Academic Study: Speaking. University of Reading.

Mistar, J., & Umamah, A. (2014). Strategies of Learning Speaking Skill By Indonesian Learners of English and Their Contribution to Speaking Proficiency. TEFLIN Journal - A Publication on the Teaching and Learning of English, 25(2), 203. https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v25i2/203-216

Muzammil, L., Andy, A., Tursini, U., & Bebeto, L. (2024). Utilizing Question-and-Answer Technique to Boost Students’ English-Speaking Skills. Journey: Journal of English Language and Pedagogy, 7(2), 181–189. https://doi.org/10.33503/journey.v7i2.829

Nurman, M., Tambusai, A., & Hasibuan, A. L. (2022). The Student’s Strategies in Speaking English. International Journal of Educational Research Excellence (IJERE), 1(1), 27–31. https://doi.org/10.55299/ijere.v1i1.23

Safitriani, R., & Jayadi, Muh. K. (2021). Teaching Speaking Book. Sanabil.

Saville-Troike, M. (2012). Introducing Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge University Press.

Suadi, S., Siregar, A. M. P., Arwin, A., & Majid, I. A. (2025). The Utilization of Digital Technology for English Literacy Improvement in Islamic Senior High Schools. International Journal of Social Learning (IJSL), 5(3), 590–608. https://doi.org/10.47134/ijsl.v5i3.440

Tracy, B. (2008). Speak to win: How to present with power in any situation. AMACOM/American Management Association.

Wahyudin, A. Y., Pd, M., Aminatun, D., Pd, M., Mandasari, B., Pd, M., Sari, F. M., Pd, M., Hamzah, I., Pd, M., Ayu, M., Pd, M., Oktaviani, L., Pd, M., Alamsyah, R., & Kom, S. (2024). Basic Principles of English Language Teaching.

Yazidi, R. E. & Amrizal. (2025). Linguistic Crossroads: How do Indonesian Mother Tongues Shape English Language Acquisition? Educalingua, 3(2), 79–92. https://doi.org/10.26877/educalingua.v3i2.2301