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Understanding English Speaking Difficulties: Implications for the English Language Curriculum for the Arab Students in a Pakistani University

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English Language Teaching Research in the Middle East and North Africa

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Abstract

This study aimed to identify the difficulties and their causes, with oral English skills of the Arab students at a leading international university in the South Punjab, Pakistan. To achieve the objectives, the study, using structured questionnaire and semi-structured (semi-standardized) interviews, addressed to the issue and reported the results indicating the relevant problem areas. The quantitative analysis of the data was performed through a one-sample t-test using SPSS version 21, whereas the qualitative analysis of the data acquired from the interviews was accomplished through open-coding and thematic analyses. The deficient oral English academic background, insufficient oral English activities in the current English language curriculum, lack of language classroom plans that provide opportunities to speak English, lack of proficient English language teachers and absence of foundation courses in English at the start of the educational programmes are found to be responsible for the oral English difficulties that these learners are currently facing. The results lead us to question the oral English curriculum for these Arab students and a lack of focus in taking the relevant remedial measures.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

    Musharraf Aziz

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  1. Musharraf Aziz
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. English Department, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia

    Sahbi Hidri

Appendix A The Interview Questions

Appendix A The Interview Questions

Question 1::

Do you face speaking difficulties while using English in front of your audience?

Question 2::

When you face trouble speaking English, what do you think why does it happen?

Question 3::

What disadvantages due to your weak English competence, do you think you suffer here during your study sojourn for tertiary education in Pakistan?

Question 4::

Is your present English language curriculum in the university helping you achieve the desired level of competence in English?

Question 5::

What do you expect from the university to do for raising your English competence and fulfil your English language needs?

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Aziz, M. (2019). Understanding English Speaking Difficulties: Implications for the English Language Curriculum for the Arab Students in a Pakistani University. In: Hidri, S. (eds) English Language Teaching Research in the Middle East and North Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98533-6_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98533-6_17

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-98532-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-98533-6

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