STUDENTS' ENGAGEMENT IN SPEAKING LESSON: THE CASE OF GRADE 10 STUDENTS AT ALETA HIDASE SECONARY AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL

<strong>Abstract: </strong>The aim of the study was to examine students’ engagement in speaking lesson of Aleta Hidase Senior Secondary School grade 10 students. The selected research design in this case was descriptive research design. Here, the most convenient method which was believed in being appropriate to specify the quantitative and qualitative details of the collected data was mixed research method. That is, 450 students were taken as the target members of the population of the study. Likewise, the existing 3 grade 10 English teachers in the current academic year at the selected secondary school were included in the population of the study. That is, 453 individuals were selected as the total population of the study. Among them, the researcher selected two sections which were being taught by two subject teachers using simple random sampling technique. This was done using lottery method to give equal access to all grade 10 English teachers’ sections. Hence, 80 students of the two selected target sections were selected as the samples of the study. Besides, the researcher used purposeful sampling technique to select all the existing three English teachers of grade 10 students. The data gathering tools of the study were close ended questions of the questionnaire i.e. Likrate scale questions were prepared and distributed to 80 sample grade 10 students. Besides, five open ended interview questions were also prepared to grade10 English teachers of the target school. Finally, 15 measuring criteria of observation checklist were also prepared with likrate scale alternatives for observation to be filled by the researcher. The analysis and interpretation of the collected data was undertaken using quantitative and qualitative method. Specifically, the close–ended questions reflections were analyzed and interpreted using SPSS version 20 software percentile, tabulation and numerical figures .Unlikely, the analysis and interpretation of the responses for open-ended questions and the checklist was done using qualitative method using comparative discussion. Finally, the findings of the study ascertained that the extent of students’ engagement in speaking classroom lesson was low, and the identified factors that affect students’ learning of speaking activities were absence of teacher follow up during discussion, mother tongue intervention., low motivation of teachers ,and students, and shortage of the allotted time. Conclusibely, the roles of English teachers to ensure effectiveness of students’ engagement in classroom speaking activities was poorly implied