Teacher Strategies for Addressing EFL Students Speaking Difficulties: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Hafizah Khaira (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta)
Ashadi (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta)

Intensive Journal
Vol 9 No 1 (2026): Student Research in English Language Teaching: Empirical Studies from Indonesia

Speaking is another important language skill for learning, especially for EFL students. This study investigates the typical speaking challenges that EFL students at a senior high school in Yogyakarta encounter and how teachers address them. Using qualitative descriptive research, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with two experienced English teachers and analyzed thematically. The study shows that learners often face insufficient confidence, limited vocabulary, poor pronunciation, and difficulty constructing sentences. Teachers respond by using speaking practice, group discussions, vocabulary building, and ICT tools such as Zoom, Google Classroom, YouTube, and the Cambridge Dictionary. The study highlights interactive tasks, the use of technology, and a willingness-demonstrating classroom.