Challenges of Oral Participation in English Classrooms: A Study of Libyan Undergraduate Learners in the English Department

Abstract

Oral participation plays a significant role in English learning classes. This is because language is fundamentally rooted in speech, and other skills like reading and writing can only be developed once a certain level of oral proficiency has been attained. Despite its importance and the awareness raised by recent studies, there is still sufficient evidence to suggest that learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) still struggle and show lower participation and less involvement in classroom activities. This study, therefore, attempts to explore the factors affecting Libyan EFL learners of English in their oral classroom participation. The study aims to more specifically understand and delve into the most highlighted factors by those learners. Accordingly, a qualitative approach was used where a number of EFL Libyan undergraduate learners (n=25) from a public university were purposely selected for this study. Based on the results, the study revealed that the learners generally consider the role played by their teachers as the most significant factor in facilitating their learning and participation. This is because learners see their teachers as experts as well as role models. The findings also indicated that the role of the target subject in terms of acquaintance is another considerablefactor in supporting their participation. That is, the more background knowledge learners have, the more likely they are to be engaged by providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge that could help them comprehend new concepts more easily, boosting their confidence, and motivating them to learn more. This increased engagement leads to a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Based on the above findings, therefore, this paper suggests that a careful consideration of learners’ characteristic and deliberate implementation of suitable strategies and approaches can help to promote the level of learners’ oral participation, guaranteeing successful learning in EFL classes.