The Exploration of Some Lacunae behind Students’ Weak Oral Performance: Case of Third Year EFL Students at BBUC in Ain-Témouchent

Abstract

Students‟ speaking performance in foreign language classes is affected by various factors. This study has been purposely conducted to find out the most influential factors that stand behind the third- year students‟ low oral attainment in English. These learners have been selected from the English department at Belhadj Bouchaib University Centre in Ain-Témouchent. The present study also aims at investigating the students‟ needs in order to improve their oral competencies in English. The research instruments employed were based on a questionnaire administered to the students and teachers of oral expression. Therefore, after collecting the relevant data and analyzing them both quantitatively and qualitatively, the results have shown that the students‟ weaknesses in speaking effectively the English language is mainly due to several problems, varying from linguistic to psychological, in addition to other flaws. The results obtained also suggest various strategies that both the teachers and students may follow in order to decrease the amount of the frequently encountered lacunae, and encourage the learners to speak the language both inside and outside class.