Challenges in English Speaking Skills Among EFL Students at The Outstanding Social Sciences Program of SMA Nurul Jadid

Abstract

This study investigates the challenges faced by students in mastering English speaking skills in the IPS flagship program at Nurul Jadid High School, an Islamic boarding school in East Java, Indonesia. Focusing on EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students, this study aims to understand the various factors that influence students' speaking abilities, where the unique learning environment in Islamic boarding schools presents its own challenges. Through qualitative and quantitative approaches, data was collected using observation, semi-structured interviews, and Likert questionnaires to explore students' perceptions of the difficulties they face when speaking English. Preliminary results indicate that internal factors such as lack of confidence, as well as external factors such as social pressure and teaching methodologies that focus more on theory than speaking practice, contribute significantly to students' low speaking skills. This study also found that students' English language experience outside the classroom is very limited, which often causes anxiety when facing real situations that require speaking skills. Students tend to be passive in communication activities and prefer not to participate actively for fear of making mistakes. To overcome these challenges, this study recommends the development of more communicative and interactive teaching strategies, including the application of the Communicative Approach and Task-Based Language Teaching.