A survey of English-speaking problems among Thai MA-CEIC students

This research addresses the issue of English-speaking problems among Thai students enrolled in an English program at a university in Thailand. It also intends to determine possible ways to improve their oral English skills. The present study used a mixed-methods design, and in the survey, 33 students responded to open-ended questions and close-ended statements in a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics with mean scores and standard deviations were calculated for the quantitative data, and qualitative responses were subjected to thematic analysis to document the participants’ actual experiences, views, and challenges in speaking practice. The findings indicated that most of the problems that students faced were a lack of vocabulary, fear of making grammatical mistakes, and uncertainty about their pronunciation, all of which hinder fluent communication. These issues had been primarily the consequence of the traditional teaching methods that prioritize theoretical knowledge and linguistic structure often to the detriment of oral language. In order to master speaking, students need to speak with native speakers, learn common expressions, idioms, and colloquial language, and participate in English speaking activities beyond the four walls of a classroom. Regular practice and exposure to English-speaking environments were also found to be critical factors for addressing issues of non-fluency and lack of confidence.