Exploring The Impacts of Psychological Factors on Speaking Performance of Freshmen Students

Abstract

At the University of Labor and Social Affairs – HCM City Campus (ULSA2), most students struggle to speak English fluently and engage in classroom discussions due to the complex nature of speaking skills and key psychological factors such as anxiety, shyness, lack of confidence, and motivation. This research aims to investigate how these factors impact first-year students in the English section, aiming to demonstrate their negative effects on academic achievement and propose remedies. A descriptive study used a questionnaire on a sample of 192 first-year students (N=192) to reveal the impact of these factors. Additionally, input from 4 students and 3 teachers assisted in providing suggestions to help students overcome these spoken language challenges. Results indicate that students' speaking struggles stem from psychological factors like anxiety, shyness, lack of confidence, and motivation, leading to issues like speech inhibition and fear of mistakes. The study suggests strategies to address these issues, along with pedagogical recommendations, including creating an encouraging classroom environment, building confidence through diverse speaking activities, and emphasizing English practice both in and out of class for enhanced fluency