A Review of Leong and Ahmadi’s article: Analysis of Factors Influencing

Learners’ English Speaking Skill

Almira Hadita
Universitas Lancang Kuning
almiraa.hadita@gmail.com

Abstract

Speaking is one of the most important skills as a communication tool and skill that is
difficult for students to learn in language. Speaking is the most important aspect of
all four language skills. Speaking skills are very important for human success. The
importance of speaking skills is observed in people's daily activities. Speaking is a
way of communicating ideas and thoughts in the form of real communication. The
problem they face when speaking is that they cannot find a suitable word and fear
criticism. This article aims to focus on factors that affect students' English language
skills. This article explores research about the terms of speaking, the importance of
speaking, the characteristics of speech, the problem of speaking, and the factors that
influence speaking performance. This study can be useful for teachers and
researchers to consider the speaking needs of their language learners in the context of
learning and teaching English.

Keywords: speaking, importance, characteristics, problems, factors

1. INTRODUCTION
In March 2017, two scholars of the
University of Malaysia (USM) and the
University of Guilan published an 8-page
speaking research article entitled "An
Analysis of Factors for Influencing
Learners' English Speaking Skil".
Professor Lai-Mei Leong and Seyedeh
Masoumeh Ahmadi stated that this article
aims to investigate what are the factors
that influence speaking skills.
Learning english speaking skills is where
english is used as a Foreign Language /
Second Language. In learning this
language depends on where someone has
improved their oral language skills in
everyday life. Language skills will make
it easier to interact with others and make
it easier for someone to convey
information both orally and in writing. In
general there are four language skills,
namely listening, speaking, reading and
writing. One aspect of language that must
be mastered is speaking, because
speaking is important for everyone, every
day they will meet people in the
environment and interact with one
another.
The purpose of teaching English is to
give students the ability to use English
effectively in communication. However,
in fact they are difficult to express their
expressions in oral language in public,
and to think about what will be said.
because they don't often read books and
their knowledge is not extensive.
When we talk about speaking, we don't
just say words by mouth. Speaking skills
are often overlooked in some classes.
Teachers lack the opportunity for
students to speak English in class or
outside the classroom. Learners need a lot
of speech training in order to improve
their speaking skills through listening and
repeating.
One language skill that is very important
in everyday life is speaking skills as an
effective oral communication medium.
speaking is very important because it can
help students be more courageous, not
feel anxious, and develop their speaking
skills.
In page-2 the aim is to facilitate speaking
skills, increase vocabulary, improve
language structure, and train hearing so
that it is easy to capture messages from
the other person.
2. METHODOLOGY
In this article we use a qualitative
approach to analyze the article "Analysis
of Factors of Influencing Learners'
English Speaking Skill" written by Leong
and Ahadi, which was published on Vol 2
in 2017. In this article, we discuss talking
to students. they worry about making
mistakes and are afraid to be criticized by
other students. They are difficult to
express when they want to talk and lack
the knowledge of reading books.
3. LITERATURE REVIEW
In this section, previous studies relating
to factors that influence speaking skills
are reviewed. Park and Lee investigated
the relationship between student anxiety,
confidence, and speaking performance. In
Korea, there are one hundred thirty-two
who show their anxiety level is higher
and have a negative relationship with
their verbal performance.
Tanveer (2007), the factors that cause
anxiety for students in speaking ability
and the impact of anxiety on the target
language communication. The results
obtained that students experience stress
and anxiety who want to stop their
learning.
Eissa, Misbah, and Najat (1988)
conducted a study of the difficulties of
using English as a means of teaching and
communication. The results of this study
indicate that students have difficulties in
using English. Students lack mastery in
the four components of speech. Therefore
their students have low English skills.
One way to improve speaking skills is to
interact with others, learn from others,
and choose topics based on the interests
of students.
Lukitasari (2003) conducts research in
overcoming the problem of speaking
students. As a result, students face a lot
of speech difficulties such as obstacles,
difficulty finding suitable words, low
participation, and use of mother tongue in
their speaking class. In overcoming it
students must learn three components of
speech called vocabulary, grammar, and
pronunciation.
4. STRENGTHS AND
WEAKNESSES
Judging from the title, this article is titled
"Analysis of Factors to Affect Learners'
English Speaking Skills". The title is
clear and the reader immediately
understands the article. from the title
alone we have understood this article to
discuss the factors that influence English
Speaking Skills in Students.
However, the title is synchronized well
through abstracts, which are written as
perfect summaries of all articles. Abstract
captures the overall information in the
article very well, so that when the reader
does not want to read the entire article, by
reading the abstract alone the reader has
understood the entire contents of the
article.
On page 1 this article discusses talking
about being ignored in school. The reason
is because the emphasis on grammar and
teacher-student balance is not profitable.
It is unfortunate because by speaking they
can practice the ability to speak in public.
By mastering public speaking, you have a
wide opportunity to reach all potential
before anyone. Therefore, language
speakers have more opportunities to get
jobs in various organizations and
companies.
According to Ur speakers (2006) on the
page it is very clear that speaking is one
of the most important skills among other
language skills such as listening, reading,
and writing. Speaking, an ability that is
very necessary for conversation. Students
must know important components in
speech such as pronunciation,
vocabulary, grammar, fluency, and
understanding. The essence of speaking is
to help students develop their vocabulary
and grammar skills and develop them
into writing. They can express emotions,
ideas, and discuss.
On page 3 the characteristics of speaking
skills and speaking accuracy. Fluency for
students to speak in ways that are
understood and understood and do not
damage communication. Students must
practice speaking in and out of class.
Accuracy for students must be fluent in
learning foreign languages. Students
focus on the structure of grammar,
vocabulary, and pronunciation.
The author discusses three problems for
speaking skills. The first is a barrier.
When they talk in class, they are worried
that they will make mistakes, be ashamed
of the attention of other students, and fear
criticism. The second is when they will
talk often, they cannot remember
anything to say and often this happens.
Supported by a statement from Rivers
(1968) "students often say nothing
because their teacher has chosen a topic
that is not suitable for them and they are
not informed about it. The third is very
low participation in the class. In
classrooms with a large number of
students , each student has a very short
time to speak, because only one student
speaks to spend time and other students
listen to it.
The next main points of discussion are
Factors Affecting Speaking Skills (pg. 4),
the discussion is very clear. First is the
performance condition. conditions have
an impact on speaking in class and
involving time pressure. Students become
stressed because the class situation is too
crowded and too long. Seingga shows the
condition of students who are tired,
makes students very weak, lacks
concentration with the task when they are
asked to speak.
Second, affective factors are one of the
important factors in learning. Among
affective variables include motivation,
confidence, and anxiety. Brown (2011)
motivation is divided into two parts,
namely: intrinsic and extrinsic
motivation. Self-confidence is another
affective factor in using communication
strategies. Based on observations, some
students do not feel confident to speak in
English in public. Anxiety is one of the
affective factors that are generally
considered to affect mastery of the
second language. Anxiety is associated
with feelings of anxiety, frustration,
hesitation, fear, or worry.
Third, listening ability. Students must
understand what is said to them to have a
successful dialogue. Thus, speaking is
closely related to listening.
In the fourth factor, the language used is
not understood and lacks understanding.
The factor is topical knowledge. Topicals
here are what and why are related to
factors that affect speaking.
5. CONCLUSION
This article discusses the factors that
influence students' English language
skills. The factors mentioned have an
important role in developing students'
speaking skills. These factors make
students less comfortable with class
conditions, lack of confidence, high
anxiety, low motivation, and low
participation. If students have high
motivation and low anxiety, their
speaking skills are very easy and
effective. Based on research, the teacher
must understand students 'interests and
talents, improve students' self-confidence,
and good teaching methods so students
do not feel bored and more concentrated
in the classroom. The teacher also builds
good relationships between students,
making them happy and enthusiastic
about learning English. The teacher gives
students many opportunities to talk and
correct student mistakes so that they are
not afraid to make mistakes.
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