Challenges In Academic Oral Presentations: The Case Of Efl Master Students At Bejaia University

The command of Academic Oral Presentation (AOP) skills is an essential concern for college students to ensure success in their academic and professional endeavors. However, students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) often face challenges when assigned to perform this task. This study seeks to identify the main difficulties EFL master students encounter when delivering AOPs at Bejaia University. Following a mixed-method design, data were obtained through a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview conducted with students. The results showed that students encountered major obstacles during the preparation of AOPs due to their unfamiliarity with the requirements of this task. Additionally, the participants faced various linguistic problems such as the lack of fluency and vocabulary, as well as some psychological barriers including anxiety and fear of evaluation. Pedagogical implications are proposed regarding how instructors can help their students overcome AOP problems