FACTORS IMPEDING THE LEARNING OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN THE AFGHAN SCHOOL SYSTEM

Abstract

The process of language learning is considered one of the greatest challenges for both language teachers and language learners. This study attempted to discover the hidden secrets of language learning. This research aimed to identify the hidden factors and challenges that impede and obscure the language learning process at high schools in Afghanistan. In this study, 200 twelfth-grade students from high schools (both female and male) from Mazar City, Balkh Province participated. Additionally, the school principal, head of departments, and class teachers were part of this research, and interviews were conducted to enrich the scope of challenges and obtain practical feedback for better solutions. The participants (students) were asked to answer the questionnaires and the administrative staff were interviewed. Although the results of the current study revealed no significant difference between male and female language learners in factors such as self-esteem, motivation, and anxiety, a minor difference between male and female students has been seen in the standard deviation. Language teachers mostly focused on speaking and reading skills but not listening and writing. Most importantly, the lack of audio and visual equipment directly affected language learning at schools. The researcher used special software, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and Microsoft Office to analyze the data