Analysis of Elementary School Students’ Difficulties in Speaking Skills in English Language Learning: A Literature Study

Tiarnita Maria Sarjani Br  Siregar; Apriyanda; Husnah Siregar; Noven Christoper  Butar Butar

doi:10.54783/endlessjournal.v9i1.378

Authors

Tiarnita Maria Sarjani Br Siregar Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, Indonesia
Apriyanda Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, Indonesia
Husnah Siregar Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, Indonesia
Noven Christoper Butar Butar Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54783/endlessjournal.v9i1.378

Keywords:

Speaking Skills, Elementary School Students, English Learning, Learning Difficulties.

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the types of difficulties and causal factors experienced by elementary school students in speaking skills in English learning through a literature review. The method used is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques in the form of reviews of various relevant journals and books. The results of the study indicate that speaking difficulties are complex and encompass both linguistic and non-linguistic aspects. From a linguistic perspective, the main obstacles include limited vocabulary, pronunciation errors due to differences in the sound systems of Indonesian and English, and a weak understanding of grammar in constructing simple sentences. Meanwhile, from a non-linguistic perspective, psychological factors such as shyness, fear of making mistakes, and low self-confidence inhibit students’ courage to speak. In addition, external factors such as limited opportunities for practice, less communicative learning methods, and an environment that does not support the use of English also exacerbate these difficulties.

References

Fatma, S. (2025). Kesulitan Siswa Sekolah Dasar dalam Berbicara Bahasa Inggris. Karimah Tauhid, 4(8), 6159-6169.

Fathin, D. U., & Sya, M. F. (2022). Pandangan guru terhadap siswa yang kesulitan dalam pengucapan berbahasa Inggris di sekolah dasar. Karimah Tauhid, 1(4), 468-473.

Febriani, R., & Sya, M. F. (2022). Kesulitan siswa sekolah dasar dalam pengucapan bahasa Inggris. Karimah Tauhid, 1(4), 461-467.

Fitriawan, M. D., & Budiman, M. A. (2021). Analisis kesulitan siswa dalam mempelajari Bahasa Inggris di SD Negeri 1 Boja Kabupaten Kendal tahun ajaran 2020/2021. Jurnal Arya Satya: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran, 1(1).

Kamengko, D. F. (2024). Empowering EFL Students'oral Proficiency: The Impact of Role-Playing in Enhancing Speaking Skills. ELT Worldwide: Journal of English Language Teaching, 11(2), 419.

Khoirunnisa, P., & Sya, M. F. (2023). Kesulitan Pelafalan pada Pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris Sekolah Dasar. Karimah Tauhid, 2(2), 492-497.

Lena, M. S., Sartono, S., Emilia, T., & Khairanis, S. (2023). Analisis kesulitan siswa dalam pembelajaran bahasa Inggris di sekolah dasar. Jurnal Bintang Pendidikan dan Bahasa, 1(3), 41-47.

Mubarokah, L., Hidayah, N. I., & Faozah, N. A. (2023). The Difficulties Teaching Speaking for Young Learners: Teachers’ and Students’ perspectives. Jurnal Bahasa Asing, 4(1), 1-11.

Muliana, I. N. (2020). Mengatasi Kesulitan Dalam Berbahasa Inggris. Linguistic Community Services Journal, 1(2), 56-63.

Najwa, S., & Ramadan, Z. H. (2024). Analisis Kesulitan Belajar Peserta Didik Kelas IV pada Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Inggris Kurikulum Merdeka. JIIP-Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan, 7(9), 9372-9377

Putri, A., & Sya, M. F. (2023). Tantangan Berbicara Bahasa Inggris Pada Siswa Sekolah Dasar. Karimah Tauhid, 2(2), 510-516.

Rofii, A. (2023). Kesulitan berbicara siswa sekolah dasar dalam pembelajaran bahasa Inggris. Jurnal Elementaria Edukasia, 6(4), 1895-1904

Saragih, I. Z., Kembaren, F. R. W., & Saragih, M. A. T. S. (2024). Factors contributing to speaking difficulties in young EFL learners: An exploratory study. English Teaching and Linguistics Journal (ETLiJ), 5(1), 01-07.

Setianingsih, L. A., Adiwijaya, P. A., & Numertayasa, I. W. (2025). An Analysis of Difficulties in Learning English Speaking Among Sixth Grade Students at SD Negeri 1 Kawan. TOFEDU: The Future of Education Journal, 4(7), 3622-3628.

Sherbekova, S. (2025, November). The Importance of Speaking Skills for EFL Learners. In International Conference on Global Trends and Innovations in Multidisciplinary Research (Vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 53-55).