Improving Public Speaking Skills for University Students: Challenges and Solutions

Abstract

This study explores English as a foreign language students’ challenges and investigates solutions for students to improve their public speaking skills at a university campus in the South of Vietnam. A descriptive mixed-method approach is used in this investigation allowing data to be quantitatively and qualitatively collected through questionnaires and interviews. The findings showed that English as a foreign language students faced several problems in public speaking as well as a lack of confidence. Many methods to improve public speaking skills were found, including making presentations, creating video blogs, and implementing circumlocution, methods that helped students increase their confidence in speaking and using effective body language. The findings of this study can be applied to help students overcome their challenges with public speaking.