EFL Learners’ Problems in Learning Speaking Skills in Different Contexts: Astudy of Literature Review from 2013 to 2018

Abstract

Speaking is a productive language skill which is responsible for speakers and listeners to make oralcommunication for exchanging and sharing information to build comprehensive relationship. English is such alanguage having global demand to perform all levels of communication for the learners from different L1backgrounds. But, for EFL learners, learning speaking skill is always considered complex and problematic andneeds much effort to maintain. This review studies problems faced by learners in EFL contexts published from2013 to 2019, a total of six years, located and retrieved search engine Google scholar and online databases. Thirty(30) studies were analyzed using Nvivo 12 software. The principal findings include: (a) EFL learners’ learning speaking problems are related to curriculum, teaching method, learning activities, using L1, psychology, and examination system; (b) psychological problems are a major concern for EFL learners’ learning English speaking skill; (c) Iran as the context of the highest number of studies; (d) quantitative is the most popular research design chosen and (e) tertiary learners are the most prolific participants of the studies. The study is not exhaustive, but it provides potential insights for EFL teachers. English supervisors, administrators, staff of the Ministry of education and above all learners in developing speaking skills