Exploring Speaking Skills Strategies Adopted by Saudi EFL Learners and the Psychological Communication Challenges Encountered

Abstract

The goal of the current study is to examine the speaking strategies adopted by Saudi EFL students and highlight some of the potential psychological communication issues they might run across. For this purpose, a questionnaire and in-depth interviews were the tools employed in the study as part of a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology. A group of 100 students enrolled in various levels at the College of Languages and Translation at Najran University were surveyed and interviewed during the academic year 2022–2023. Statements on psychological conditions like lack of self-esteem, anxiety, and lack of self-confidence were included in the semi-structured interview. Students were shown to regularly struggle with psychological issues like low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, which prevented them from speaking English and other languages. This study underlines the urgent need for English-speaking skills improvement at all levels of higher education and focuses on students' attitudes towards English-speaking talents. The study's conclusions suggest that students can use speaking skills strategies to overcome their communication difficulties. Additionally, it is discovered that the responses of the study sample are not statistically significantly different according to gender. Male and female students do not see learning to speak English differently, and they are now more cognizant of the growing significance of doing so.