Investigating Barriers that Cause Universities Students’ Weak Speaking Performance

Abstract

This research was conducted among Sudanese university students majoring in English to investigate the barriers that cause weak speaking performance among them. In this study a sample of 45 students participated in oral speaking test and 10 experts were interviewed. The two tools were used for primary data collection, while the secondary data were obtained from references, research papers. The results that were obtained by the study test revealed that students ability to speak was weak as a result of using inappropriate strategies in mastering speaking .In addition to that experts interview revealed that the textbooks 'SPINE series' that is taught at basic and secondary Stages in Sudan doesn’t enable students to strengthen skills of spoken language as the activities designed for that purpose are not enough. So the study recommends that the students should adopt more effective strategies such as learning vocabulary in chunk of language, practicing speaking with each other and apply grammar rules unconsciously. Also the study suggests that the text book should be designed to be more integrated to develop all the language skills simultaneously.