Psychological Factors Affecting English Presentation Skills: Problems and Solutions

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54855/979-8-9870112-8-7_4

Keywords:

English presentation skills, psychological factors, solutions, Vietnamese students

Abstract

In higher education, presentation is a skill that students must master and perform in most subjects. Among the various factors that influence the success of a presentation, psychological aspects often play a crucial role, particularly when learners present in a foreign language, such as English. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the problems and solutions related to psychological factors that students often encounter when giving English presentations. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods, with 80 students responding to the questionnaire and 20 selected for in-depth interviews. Findings reveal that students are primarily influenced by their own shyness, lack of confidence, and Anxiety when delivering presentations in front of the class. Interestingly, they remained motivated throughout the learning process, thanks to teacher support and positive peer feedback during presentation activities. Regarding the methods students often use to overcome the above-mentioned psychological barriers, the most common is to prepare carefully and practice presentations regularly. Through this study, teachers should be aware of students' presentation difficulties and employ various teaching strategies to mitigate students' psychological problems during class participation, thereby helping them achieve their best results in their studies.

Author Biography

Phan Thi Ngoc Le, University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam

Dr. Phan Thi Ngoc Le is currently an English lecturer at VNU University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Her research interests include English Linguistics, English Language Teaching, World Englishes, L1 transfer to L2, Language and Technology, English Presentation Skills, and Psychology Studies.

References

Al-Issa, Ahmad, & Al-Qubtan. (2010). Taking the Floor: Oral Presentations in EFL Classrooms. TESOL Journal, 1(2), 227–246. https://doi.org/10.5054/tj.2010.220425

Aouatef, B. (2015). The Main Psychological Factors Affecting Learners’ Oral Performance, Case Study: Second year LMD Students of English. Mohamed Kheider University of Birska.http://archives.univ-biskra.dz/bitstream/123456789/5962/1/BELEGDAIR%20Aouatef.pdf

Arlan, K., Haq, M. Z. U., & Daddi, H. (2022). Students’ Fear of Oral English Presentation. Indonesian Journal of Psycholinguistics, 1(3), 90-95. http://dx.doi.org/10.56983/ijp.v1i3.320

Babu, R. (2010). Teaching Spoken English for Non-native Students: Problems, Solutions and Techniques. https://eltweekly.com/2010/06/60-article-teaching-spoken-english-for-non-native-students-problems-solutions-and-techniques-by-a-ramesh-babu/

Baker, A. (2025). How to Improve Your Communication Skills. Kogan Page.https://www.koganpage.com/general-business-interest/how-to-improve-your-communication-skills-9781398621121

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Brown, H. D. (2001). Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. Prentice Hall.https://methodologyshumenextramurals.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2-a-methodical-history-of-langauge-teaching.pdf

Chen, G., Smith, T. A., Kirkman, B. L., Zhang, P., Lemoine, G. J., & Farh, J.-L. (2018). Multiple Team Membership and Empowerment Spillover Effects: Can Empowerment Processes Cross Team Boundaries?. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000336

Dang, N. G. (2020). Một số giải pháp nhằm giảm thiểu lo lắng của sinh viên chuyên ngành tiếng Anh trong lớp học thuyết trình. Tạp Chí Khoa học Ngoại ngữ, (62), 63–70. https://doi.org/10.56844/tckhnn.62.80

Do, T. H., & Vu, T. P. H. (2022). Phân tích sự lo lắng của sinh viên năm thứ nhất đối với kỹ năng nói tiếng Anh tại Trường Đại học Công nghiệp Hà Nội (Analysis of first-year students' anxiety about English speaking skill at Hanoi University of Industry). Từ điển học & Bách khoa thư, 4, 148-154. https://sti.vista.gov.vn/tw/Lists/TaiLieuKHCN/Attachments/349601/CVv517S042022148.pdf

Elhadi, M. (2017). Psychological Factors Affecting Sudanese EFL Learners’ Oral Performance. Lambert Academic Publishing. https://www.amazon.com/Psychological-Affecting-Sudanese-Learners-Performance/dp/3330056576

Gebhard, G. J. (2006). Teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language. USA: The University of Michigan Press.https://books.google.com.vn/books/about/Teaching_English_as_a_Foreign_Or_Second.html?hl=id&id=HBUgNRvBVFQC&redir_esc=y

Grieve, R., Woodley, J., Hunt, S. E., & McKay, A. (2021). Student fears of oral presentations and public speaking in higher education: a qualitative survey. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45(9), 1281-1293. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1948509

Hardi, V. A. (2017). Factors causes oral communication apprehension of English Department students in presentation class at Riau Islamic University. Journal of English Language and Education, 2(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v2i1.22

Hemerka, V. (2009). Low Speaking Performance in Learners of English. Bachelor Thesis. Masaryk, University Brno. https://is.muni.cz/th/b343q/Low_Speaking_Performance_BC_Thesis.pdf

Ho, D. P. K., & Truong, T. N. N. (2022). Exploring Vietnamese non-English-majored freshmen's English-speaking Anxiety at a public university in Vietnam. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 38(5), 105-125. https://doi.org/10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4789

Jabir, M., Mursalim, Agustina, S. (2022). Psychological Factors Affecting Students’ Oral Presentation at the English Education Department of Halu Oleo University. Journal of Teaching of English, 7(1), 1-8. http://ojs.uho.ac.id/index.php/JTE/article/view/24917

Kurakan, P. (2021). Anxiety in English Oral Presentations of Thai EFL Engineering Students. THAITESOL Journal, 34(2), 67–92. https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/thaitesoljournal/article/view/256486

Le, T. T. D., & Nguyen, H. T. (2024). Freshman EFL learners' Anxiety in speaking classes and coping strategies. European Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 7(3), 32-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejfl.v7i3.5019

Lee, Y. J. J., & Liu, Y. T. (2022). Promoting Oral Presentation Skills Through Drama‑Based Tasks with an Authentic Audience: A Longitudinal Study. Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 31, 253‑267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-021-00557-x

Liang, H. Y., & Kelsen, B. (2018). Influence of personality and motivation on oral presentation performance. Journal of psycholinguistic research, 47(4), 755-776. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-017-9551-6

Moneva, J., & Tribunalo, S. M. (2020). Students’ level of self-confidence and performance tasks. Asia Pacific Journal of Academic Research in Social Sciences, 5(1), 42-48. https://research.lpubatangas.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/APJARSS-2020.006.pdf

Nguyen, Q. T., Vu, V. T., & Le, T. V. (2023). Non-English Major Students’ Strategies to Reduce Anxiety towards English Group Presentations. Scientific Journal of Tan Trao University, 9(2), 177-186. https://doi.org/10.51453/2354-1431/2023/922

Nguyen, T. C. (2020). Ảnh hưởng của sự lo lắng đến kỹ năng nói của sinh viên năm thứ nhất trường Đại học Công nghiệp Hà Nội. Tạp chí Thiết bị Giáo dục, 211(2), 55-57. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351578551_ANH_HUONG_CUA_SU_LO_LANG_DEN_KY_NANG_NOI_CUA_SINH_VIEN_NAM_THU_NHAT_TRUONG_DAI_HOC_CONG_NGHIEP_HA_NOI

Nguyen, T. H. (2022). Hufi Non-Englished Majored Students’ Fears of Public Speaking: Causes and Solutions. International Journal of TESOL & Education, 2(3), 225-234. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijte.222315

Nguyen, T. T., & Tong, T. T. N. (2024). Investigation into Difficulties in Public Speaking among English-majored Students at University of Phan Thiet. International Journal of Language Instruction, 3(1), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijli.24312

Nguyen, T. T. L., Thai, P. B. H., Tieu, M. S., & Pham, T. H. (2025). Public speaking anxiety and strategies to overcome through public speaking skill training. Journal of Science Social Science, 69(4), 103-111.https://doi.org/10.18173/2354-1067.2024-0072

Nijat, N., Atifnigar, H., Chandran, K., Selvan, S. L. T., & Subramonie, V. (2019). Psychological Factors that Affect English Speaking Performance among Malaysian Primary School Pupils. American International Journal of Education and Linguistics Research, 2(2), 55–68. https://doi.org/10.46545/aijelr.v2i2.117

Nunan, D. (1999). Second Language Teaching &Learning. USA. Heinle & Heinle Publisher. https://archive.org/details/secondlanguagete0000nuna

Pabro-Maquidato, I. M. (2021). The Experience of English Speaking Anxiety and Coping Strategies: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study. International Journal of TESOL & Education, 1(2), 45-64. https://i-jte.org/index.php/journal/article/view/32

Pham, M. T., Nguyen, D. N. Q., Nguyen, T. K. C., Nguyen, H. N. M., Hoang, T. A. T., & Pham, V. P. H. (2022). The Reality of English Presentation Skills of English-majored Students in Vietnam: A Case Study at Van Lang University. International Journal of TESOL & Education, 2(2), 27-46. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijte.22222

Pham, V. P. H., & Le, H. L. (2022). Factors Affecting Students’ English Proficiency at Lac Hong University. ICTE Conference Proceedings, 1, 57–63. https://doi.org/10.54855/ictep.15

Richard, J. C. (2008). Teaching Listening and Speaking: From Theory to Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge Press University. https://www.professorjackrichards.com/wp-content/uploads/teaching-listening-and-speaking-from-theory-to-practice.pdf

Royal, K., Hedgpeth, M. W., & Flammer, K. (2018). Exploring Shyness among Veterinary Medical Students: Implications for Mental and Social Wellness. Veterinary sciences, 5(2), 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci5020056

Sari, N. N. (2022). The Psychological Factors in Learning Speaking. EDUCASIA: Jurnal Pendidikan, Pengajaran, Dan Pembelajaran, 7(1), 25-43. https://doi.org/10.21462/educasia.v7i1.70

Schwarz, R. L. (2005). Taking a Closer Look at Struggling ESOL Learners. Retrieved November, 2024 from https://www.ncsall.net/index.php@id=994.html

Soomro, M.A., Siming, I.A., Channa, M.A., Shah, S.H., Naeem, N., & Abbasi, A.M. (2019). An Analysis of English Oral Communication Apprehension and Anxiety of Engineering Undergraduates in Pakistan. International Journal of English Linguistics, 9(2), 162-173. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v9n2p162

Thaksanan, P. (2024). The Study of EFL Students’ Public Speaking Anxiety and Academic Oral Presentation Strategies at a Tertiary Level in Thailand. Journal of Education and Innovation, 26(4), 48‑59. https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/edujournal_nu/article/view/270538

Tran, T. T. L. (2022). An Investigation into the Causes of Students’ Anxiety in Learning English Speaking Skills. International Journal of TESOL & Education, 2(3), 183-196. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijte.222312

University of Queensland. (2024). 5 tips for overcoming presentation Anxiety. Retrieved May 30th, 2025 from https://habs.uq.edu.au/blog/2024/03/5-tips-overcoming-presentation-anxiety

Wang Z. (2023). Psychological factors and production behaviors of Chinese undergraduate EFL learners. PloS one, 18(7), e0288014. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288014

Downloads

Published

10-10-2025

How to Cite

Phan, T. N. L. (2025). Psychological Factors Affecting English Presentation Skills: Problems and Solutions. ICTE Conference Proceedings, 7, 55–72. https://doi.org/10.54855/979-8-9870112-8-7_4

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.