Speaking skill is one of the important skills to be taught among junior high school
students. However, many students claim to have speech impediments. The main
objective of this research is to find out the factors that influence students' speaking
ability in speaking class, besides that it is also to find out what difficulties are faced by
students. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method which reveals the findings
and research results qualitatively. The subjects of this study were students of class VIII
class A of SMP Negeri 9 Ngabang, which consisted of 30 students. Data collection
techniques were carried out through observation and interviews. The data analysis used
is interactive analysis with data reduction, data presentation, and
verification/conclusion steps. The results showed that there were internal factors and
external factors that influenced students' speaking difficulties. Internal factors include
physiological conditions, low student interest in learning, lack of motivation to learn,
poor vocabulary, and poor pronunciation. While external factors include learning
methods that are less attractive, a learning environment that is not optimal, class
conditions that are not conducive causing students to lack concentration while
studying, poor communication between teachers and students, limited infrastructure,
and the presence of economic factors that affect students education.