FACTORS INFLUENCING DIFFICULTIES IN SPEAKING ENGLISH OF SIX SEMESTER STUDENTS OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY KOTABUMI ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024

In this study, researchers examined and discussed the issue of factors that influence the speaking ability of sixth semester students majoring in English at Muhammadiyah University Kotabumi for the 2023/2024 academic year. Researchers used descriptive qualitative research methods. The instruments used in this research were documents and interviews. In this research, the data collection technique used by researchers was an in-depth interview technique with 6 sixth semester students. The results of this study illustrate that there are 5 factors that influence speaking ability. The five influencing factors are performance conditions (time pressure, planning, quality of performance and amount of support), effective factors (confidence and anxiety), listening ability and topical knowledge. The results in the working conditions factor consist of time pressure, there are 4 students, in planning there are 6 students, in the quality of performance there are 5 students and in the amount of support there are 2 students in problems. In the effective factor consisting of the self-confidence aspect, there are 3 students and in the anxiety aspect there are 6 students in trouble. In the listening ability and topical knowledge factors, there were 5 students who were low in listening ability and topical knowledge in English.