The Perspectives of Students on the Role of Instructors' Facemasks in Hindering the Oral Communication Skills of Students Learning English at PYD, PSAU in the KSA

The present study aims to find out the impact of instructors' facemasks in hindering oral communication skills among students by investigating the factors that lead to such a hindrance in language learning and suggesting suitable solutions for reducing the negative effects of wearing facemasks and bettering communication skills. Findings indicate that, though wearing a facemask is mandatory for personal health and prevention against COVID-19, it hinders the students from developing their oral communication skills and prevents them from observing the facial expressions of English instructors that are hidden behind those facemasks. Tone and pitch are very essential in the process of oral communication and the changing of speech sounds is helpful to maintain oral communication speech channels. Nonetheless, it was observed that transparent facemask solves the problems of hiding facial and verbal expressions of the lips, and the video lessons compensate for the oral communication weaknesses of students. In view of the findings, it was therefore recommended that wearing a transparent facemask along with providing students with extra video lessons can be effective in helping students improve their oral communication skills.