The Impact of Lack of Fluency in English-Speaking of 3rd year Students at English Department Savannakhet University

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the causes and analyze the impact of a lack of English-speaking fluency among third-year students in the Department of English at Savannakhet University. A mixed-methods approach was employed, with data collected from 31 students through questionnaires and interviews. The quantitative findings revealed that the lack of fluency was strongly associated with several factors: anxiety (x̅ = 3.51, SD = 1.14), lack of self-confidence (x̅ = 3.55, SD = 1.20), insufficient vocabulary (x̅ = 3.71, SD = 1.16), and lack of background knowledge (x̅ = 3.61, SD = 1.32). Students reported difficulties in expressing complex ideas, retrieving appropriate words, and participating in English-speaking activities due to fear of making mistakes and limited opportunities for practice. The impact of these challenges was significant. Over 51% of participants stated that they could not fully understand lessons, while others experienced low academic performance, missed opportunities, and fear of speaking in public or in front of native speakers. Situational anxiety was particularly high when responding to unprepared questions or during classroom presentations. Interview data further emphasized that low fluency limited students’ confidence in both academic and career-related communication, with 45.16% of respondents acknowledging that their inability to speak English would negatively affect their job prospects. Despite these difficulties, many students expressed strong motivation to improve, particularly through vocabulary development and more consistent speaking practice. The study concludes that improving English-speaking fluency requires addressing both linguistic and psychological barriers. Creating supportive learning environments, building students’ confidence, and providing structured opportunities to practice speaking English can help learners develop the fluency necessary for academic success and global employability.