SPEAKING CHALLENGES FACED BY BACHELOR DEGREE STUDENTS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

Abstract
In the context of Kazakhstani university of Narxoz, the current study tried to explore the difficulties faced by Bachelor Degree students and the possible causal factors of these difficulties while speaking English as a foreign language. In this study, the researcher applied two qualitative approaches: open-ended questionnaire and semi-structured interview as a research tool to collect data. 10 students from the Faculty of Digital Engineering at the University of Narxoz  were invited to participate for both interview and questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed through thematic analysis in terms of two major categories: challenges and causes  which were divided into four sub-categories of broad terms. Moreover, the study attempted to reveal some ideas and ways of solving these speaking difficulties suggested by students themselves. The findings found out  the most common speaking difficulties which were divided into linguistic, personal and social problems , while  teacher and teaching, course content, poor schooling  and classroom environment were found to be the primary causes of speaking deficiency. The most common ideas to improve speaking skills and to overcome their language barriers, students were advised to attend language courses or to be actively involved in classes at the university as well as to do more self-study work. As regards suggestions for teachers, they were recommended to change their current methods to more effective and more practical ways of teaching. Also, students wished that their educators focused on more practice of oral production which could be provided in a form of different competitive games and activities.
Key words: speaking challenges, English language learners, university students, speaking fluency.