Students' role in enhancing their speaking skills

Abstract

Speaking is the process of building and sharing meaning through verbal utterance. It is also considered as a crucial part of second language learning and teaching. In Ethiopia, English language is taught in schools for five days a week starting from grade one and when students reach high school in addition to learning English, they learn all other subjects in English. Meanwhile, the students speaking skill is not as good as a student who spend much time using the language; they are anxious to speak in the classroom or outside due to different social and psychological reasons. So, this study was conducted to explore the students’ role in enhancing their speaking skills at two Ethiopian state high schools. The study used descriptive research design, which comprises qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques. Forty students who were randomly selected from the two schools filled out the survey questionnaire and four teachers which were selected voluntarily their classes observed were interviewed. Learners to improve their speaking skills are expected to do different speaking activities in the classroom and outside the classroom. However, the study’s finding found that the students are not playing their role in a way that helps them improve their speaking skill; this means they don’t expose themselves to learning the skill. It was also found that students are not aware that they have to make an effort to improve their speaking skills.