Lack of English-Speaking Skills among High School Students in English-Medium Schools - Challenges and Pedagogical Concerns

Aug 29, 2026

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English speaking skills play a significant role in academic, professional, and global communication in India. Over the years, the importance and use of English have increased considerably, leading to a growing interest among students in developing proficiency in the language. However, many high school learners in English-medium schools still struggle to speak fluently and confidently. The discussion-based study highlights barriers such as fear of mistakes, low confidence, limited vocabulary, pronunciation issues, mother-tongue interference, classroom anxiety, and insufficient practice opportunities. It emphasizes communicative, learner-centered pedagogy and concludes that supportive environments and sustained practice are essential.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages6

Reading Time15 min

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Challenges and Pedagogical Concerns

ISSN: 2456-8104 Impact Factor: 6.895 (SJIF) Vol. 10 | Issue 55 | May 2026 [www.jrspelt.com](www.jrspelt.com) Lack of English-Speaking Skills among High School Students in English-Medium Schools: Challenges and Pedagogical Concerns Ms. Smriti Joshi ([smritijoshi182@gmail.com](smritijoshi182@gmail.com)), : https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7174-0418 Research Scholar, IISHLS, Department of English, Indus University, Ahmedabad, India | Copyright: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee JRSP-ELT (2456-8104) . This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International License.([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Crossref/DOI:)[).](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Crossref/DOI:)[ Crossref/DOI:](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Crossref/DOI:) [https://doi.org/10.54850/jrspelt.10.55.004](https://doi.org/10.54850/jrspelt.10.55.004) | | --- | | Abstract: English speaking skills play a significant role in academic, professional, and global communication in India. Over the years, the importance and use of English have increased considerably, leading to a growing interest among students in developing proficiency in the language. However, despite studying in English-medium schools, many highschool students in cities like Ahmedabad continue to face difficulties in speaking English fluently and confidently. The present paper highlights the challenges and the existing problems of inadequate English-speaking skills among highschool students studying in English-medium schools in Ahmedabad. The study is conceptual and discussion-based in nature and draws upon classroom observations, existing literature in English Language Teaching (ELT), and common learning experiences among students. The paper focuses on several factors responsible for poor speaking proficiency, including fear of making mistakes, lack of confidence, limited vocabulary, pronunciation problems, mother tongue interference, classroom anxiety, and insufficient opportunities for practice. It further discusses the importance of communicative teaching methods, learner-centered classrooms, group discussions, role plays, and interactive classroom activities in enhancing speaking abilities. The study concludes that continuous practice, supportive learning environments, and effective pedagogy essential for improving students’ spoken English and bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical language use.
Keywords: CLT, Classroom Anxiety, ELT, English-Medium Schools, High School Students, Speaking Skills | | Article History: Received: 15 May-2026; Accepted: 21 May-2026; Published/Available Online: 30 May-2026 | 1 1. Introduction English is one of the most important global languages used in education, business, science, technology, and international communication. In India, English functions as a link language and plays a significant role in higher education, employment, and professional interaction. With increasing globalization and technological advancement, proficiency in English has become essential for academic and career success (Crystal 2003) . As a result, the demand for English-medium education has increased considerably across urban and semi-urban regions of India. In recent years, English-medium schools have expanded rapidly, particularly in cities such as Ahmedabad. Parents often prefer English-medium education with the expectation that their children will develop fluency and confidence in communication. However, despite studying in English-medium schools for several years, many students continue to struggle with spoken English. While students may perform reasonably well in reading and writing tasks, they often hesitate to communicate orally in English. Speaking is considered one of the most difficult skills to acquire in second language learning because it requires not

FAQs

What challenges lead to inadequate English-speaking skills among high school students in English-medium schools?

The article highlights fear of mistakes, lack of confidence, limited vocabulary, pronunciation problems, mother-tongue interference, classroom anxiety, and insufficient opportunities for practice.

Why is speaking considered difficult in second-language learning?

Speaking requires more than grammar; it depends on fluency, pronunciation, confidence, and communicative competence, including active, spontaneous participation.

How can teaching practices improve students’ spoken English?

The paper recommends communicative teaching methods and learner-centered classrooms, including group discussions, role plays, pair work, and interactive activities that increase practice and confidence.

Aug 29, 2026

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