The Obstacles in Learning Speaking in the Ship Machinery Engineering Department of Ivet University in the Academic Year 2024/2025

Abstract

This study aims to identify the obstacles in English speaking skills faced by fifth-semester students of the Ship Machinery Engineering Study Program at Ivet University. Speaking is an essential competency in English learning; however, many students still experience difficulties in terms of fluency and accuracy. This research employed a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected through classroom observations and Likert-scale questionnaires administered to 100 students from three classes.The findings show that 80% of students still struggle with speaking, while 48% face difficulties in constructing sentences and understanding tenses. A total of 60% of students experience limited vocabulary, and pronunciation problems are encountered by 49% of respondents. Affective factors are also dominant, with 80% of students lacking confidence due to fear of making mistakes. Additionally, 75% feel their speaking skills remain passive due to limited practice, and 93% report that their classroom environment does not support the use of English in daily communication. In conclusion, students’ speaking obstacles are influenced by both linguistic factors (vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation) and non-linguistic factors (anxiety, lack of practice, classroom environment). These findings highlight the need for more communicative teaching strategies and increased practice opportunities to enhance students’ speaking abilities.