Speaking is one of important skills in English that must be mastered by students,
because speaking has a big role in communication. Therefore, students are expected to
be able to communicate using English fluently. For students learning English as a
foreign language or second language, speaking English is quite difficult. Even though
students have already learned for many years, sometimes there are several problems
that hinder students in speaking. The aim of this study was to described the
psychological problems in speaking English of high, moderate and low ability students
of the sixth semester in English education study program at Muhammadiyah kotabumi
university. This research design in the study was qualitative descriptive. The researcher
used interview, observation and document in the data collection for the study. The
researcher considered 6 students with high, moderate and low ability in speaking of the
sixth semester of English education study program. Based on the result of this study
the researcher concluded that the psychological problems in speaking English consists
of: lack of motivation, lack of self-confident, anxiety, fear of making mistakes and
shyness. Then different problems of high, moderate and low ability students in
speaking English of the sixth semester students are, first at the high ability students’
there are two more dominant psychological problems, namely lack of self-confidents
and fear of making mistake. Second the moderate ability students there are also two
more dominant psychological problems, namely lack of self-confidents and shyness.
The last at the low ability students’ there are had the psychological problems, namely
lack of motivation, lack of self-confident and anxiety.
Key words: Speaking, Psychological Problems, High, Moderate and Low Ability.