Oral Communication Skills Among English-Majored Graduates: A Survey of Those at Companies in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Background: This study examines the oral communication skills of English-majored graduates and addresses the challenges they encounter in effectively communicating in English. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 150 graduates from a university in Binh Duong province, yielding valuable insights into their language proficiency and practical experience since graduation. The majority of participants had less than four years of real-world experience, with varied levels of English oral communication development. Results: Linguistic problems identified included pronunciation errors, ambiguous sentences, and inappropriate sentence structures. Non-linguistic challenges included a lack of interest, shyness, difficulty finding ideas during conversations, nervousness, feeling uncomfortable, and concern about maintaining face. Interviews with ten graduates further confirmed these issues, highlighting limited specialized vocabulary, pronunciation difficulties, and self-confidence as common challenges. Strategies proposed for addressing these challenges include dedicating more time, using subtitles while watching movies or listening to music, and engaging with foreigners for practice. Conclusion: This research contributes to the understanding of oral communication challenges faced by English-majored graduates and provides recommendations for improving their skills.