The Impact of the Psychological Factors on EFL Learners’ Oral Performance.

Abstract

Effective communication in different settings particularly in the educational one requires the mastery of the speaking skill, the basic skill needed to learn any foreign language. The present study aims at investigating the main psychological factors in EFL speaking, namely lack of confidence, fear of making mistakes, anxiety and shyness. It seeks to reveal the negative effects of these factors on students‟ oral performance and to determine the possible solutions to overcome them. In order to confirm or infirm the research hypothesis that these psychological factors hamper students‟ oral performance, both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used including a questionnaire administered to eighty (80) second year students at Hirech Mohamed secondary school in Tiaret, and an interview designed to nine (9) secondary school teachers in Tiaret. The data gathered indicate that psychological factors such as anxiety, stress and lack of confidence impact negatively on EFL students‟ oral performance. Besides, some of the teachers‟ methods implemented in the classroom are not effective enough to improve students‟ speaking skill.