STUDENTS' PERCEPTION OF SPEAKING DIFFICULTIES IN THE ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE (ESP) PROGRAM

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the difficulties that students have when speaking English in the setting of English for Specific Purpose (ESP) at the BANK BPD JATENG Semarang College of Economics (STIE), as well as the solutions they employ to overcome these obstacles. This study took a qualitative approach, collecting data using questionnaires from 20 second-semester students. The data analysis revealed that the majority of respondents struggled to locate the appropriate language and use proper grammar when speaking. Anxiety over making mistakes, a lack of exposure to English outside the classroom, and interactions with lecturers and classmates all had an impact on students' confidence in speaking English. However, measures like as speaking practice with friends, vocabulary building through reading and listening, and lecturer support were found to be useful in assisting students in overcoming their difficulties. Given these findings, a learning technique that takes these aspects into account may improve students' speaking abilities in future ESP lessons.