Exploring the Weakness Problem in English Speaking Skill Faced by Students at Institut Supérieur des Métiers du Bâtiment, des Travaux Publics et de l’Urbanisme : A Case Study of First Year Students

Résumé

The article investigates the weakness in English speaking skills among first-year students at the Institut Supérieur des Métiers du Bâtiment, des Travaux Publics et de l’Urbanisme. Using a descriptive approach, the study collected data through a questionnaire administered to sixty randomly selected students and interviews with fifteen of them. It identifies the main causes of weak speaking performance as lack of confidence, shyness, anxiety, fear of criticism and mistakes, mother-tongue interference, pronunciation difficulties, and insufficient practice and training in English. The article also discusses the importance of speaking as a productive skill and its role in academic, professional, and everyday communication. Based on the findings, it recommends increasing opportunities for oral practice, using effective teaching strategies and authentic speaking activities, improving teacher training, and creating a supportive classroom environment that encourages students to communicate without fear (*).