Exploring the Barriers and Challenges in Utilizing Technology for Enhancing Speaking Skills among English Department Students in Pekanbaru.
Keywords:
EFL speaking skills, technology integration, affective barriers.Abstract
This study aims to explore the use of technology in enhancing EFL speaking skills, identify the barriers encountered by students, and propose strategies for effective integration. The research was conducted at three private universities in Pekanbaru, Indonesia, involving English Department students. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through classroom and online observations, open-ended questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews with students and lecturers. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that technology is commonly used in speaking instruction; however, its application is largely limited to individual and form-focused activities such as pronunciation practice, presentation preparation, and assignment submission. Interactive and communicative uses of technology remain limited. Several challenges were identified, including technical and infrastructural constraints, pedagogical misalignment, psychological and affective barriers, and varying levels of digital literacy. The study concludes that effective technology integration requires pedagogically driven practices, institutional support, improved digital literacy, and attention to learners’ affective needs.
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