Investigation of the difficulties of speaking and writing in English: Case of Afyonkarahisar

This study was carried out to investigate the difficulties of speaking and writing in English. The participants consisted of academic staff and students at Afyon Kocatepe University. The study population was identified through one of the "purpose sampling" techniques, maximum variation sampling. The study has the characteristics of the quantitative and qualitative research designs, called as mixed method. Two scales for quantitative data and a structured interview form for qualitative data were used. Data was properly analyzed and evaluated through quantitative and qualitative research methods. As a result of the study, the university students are having problems about speaking and writing in English due to the English education which is lack of practice. The students and academic staff who have had a preparatory English class at high school or university, have been abroad before, have a family member knows English and have foreign friends, are having less problems about speaking and writing in English than the ones who don't have such things mentioned above.