COMMON BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE SPEAKING AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM
Keywords:
speaking skills, communication, psychological barriers, public speaking, language learning, cultural awareness, pronunciation, speech anxiety, technology-assisted learning.Abstract
This article analyzes the main barriers to effective oral communication among foreign language learners and provides practical recommendations for overcoming them. Effective speaking skills are a fundamental factor in language acquisition, social interaction, professional activities, and personal growth. However, many individuals face difficulties in social interaction due to various factors such as speech anxiety (fear of speaking in public), limited vocabulary, pronunciation and grammatical errors, cultural and social barriers, psychological pressure, shyness, and inability to express ideas logically. Each of these obstacles commonly encountered by language learners is examined in detail in this article. It also explores how these challenges can be addressed through metacognitive strategies, practice techniques, interactive methods, self-assessment, and the development of cultural awareness. Furthermore, the role of modern technologies such as mobile applications, artificial intelligence-assisted practice, and the use of video and audio materials in enhancing speaking skills is also discussed.
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