Factors Affecting Students’ Active Participation in English Speaking Class: Grade 8 in Focus

Abstract

This study intended to explore factors affecting students’ participation in speaking English classes. To achieve the objective of the study, the researcher used a mixed research design involving both qualitative and quantitative methods. All grade 8th English teachers and students of the school were taken as the population of the study. The students were selected in purposive sampling and teachers were selected using comprehensive sampling. The data were collected using a questionnaire, interview, and classroom observation. Data obtained from the questionnaire was analyzed quantitatively by using graphs and percentages and open-ended questions were analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that students encountered many difficulties that caused students to be poor participants in speaking classes. Anxiety, lack of motivation, lack of encouragement, fear of criticism by peers, teachers’ approach of teaching, classroom management, classroom environment and the intense use of Amharic in class were the major factors affecting students’ active participation in speaking classes. Moreover, some teachers lack the required training, strategies and techniques to manage a speaking lesson. Other factors that the study unveiled were related to the educational and surrounding environment, in terms of using technological teaching aids and a convenient number of students in class. Besides, the findings also revealed that students had no communication or limited communication during English class between the teacher and among students. Students could not achieve the objective of the course being passive participants in speaking classes. To this end, teachers’ methods of teaching, classroom management, and care of students should be boosted through training.