Article info.

ABSTRACT

Received 17 Oct 2017
Revised 08 Dec 2017

Accepted 20 Jul 2018

Along with the demand of global integration, learning foreign languages for international communication has become more and more vital to Vietnamese students. Therefore, English speaking skills is an indispensable course in English language curriculum at tertiary level. However, it is not easy for English learners in this context to achieve their fluency and proficiency in English speaking skill due to certain internal and external factors. Therefore, this study is to investigate challenges of speaking skills faced by English-majored freshmen in a Vietnamese university. The data obtained from the questionnaire with 131 students, individual interviews with lecturers, and class observation. The findings show that English freshmen faced both internal and external challenges, especially the latter ones regarding the limitation of English speaking environment and extracurricular activities. Possible measures are proposed to tackle such challenges in helping students speak English more effectively.

Keywords

Challenges, speaking skills, Vietnamese undergraduates

Cited as: Quyen, V.P., Nga, P.T.M. and Nguyen, H.T., 2018. Challenges to speaking skills encountered by English-majored students: A story of one Vietnamese university in the Mekong Delta. Can Tho University Journal of Science. 54(5): 38-44.