INVESTIGATING OBSTACLES IN LEARNING SPEAKING AMONG FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS OF STAIN TEUNGKU DIRUNDENG MEULABOH

Abstract

This study is conducted to find out the problems and the causes of problems faced by English department students, and the efforts they make in order to overcome those problems. This study is done in one of university in Aceh province. The subject of this study is the 31 students who are in the first semester in STAIN Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh. This study employed a qualitative research design. The data were collected through questionnaire and interview. The results of this study show students problems were caused by psychological and linguistic factor. The mostly causes of students problems in speaking skill are forget what to say and afraid to speak. Practice with the classmates or other friends and listening English song are the efforts that the majority respondents do in improving speaking skill. This finding suggests that the lecturer motivate the students to express their ideas and have self-confidence to communicate in English and the students should practice English regularly inside or outside the class