Grammatical knowledge and oral performance among English language learners: a systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62305/alcon.v6i4.1239Keywords:
grammatical knowledge; oral performance; oral production; English as a foreign language; systematic reviewAbstract
Grammatical knowledge is often associated with English oral production, although the stability of this relationship varies across settings and instruments. This systematic review synthesized recent evidence on the association between objectively measured grammatical knowledge and observed oral performance among learners of English as a foreign language. A narrative synthesis was conducted following PRISMA 2020 reporting guidance and JBI critical-appraisal principles. OpenAlex, ERIC, and DOAJ were searched for studies published between 2021 and August 2026, with supplementary citation and targeted journal searching. Eighteen studies comprising 672 participants were included. Fourteen reported significant positive associations, whereas four presented nonsignificant results; coefficients ranged from -.237 to .853. Overall, the findings show a predominantly positive association between grammatical-knowledge and oral-performance scores, without establishing causality. Generalizability is constrained by geographical concentration, small samples, heterogeneous instruments, and partial overlap between some measures.
Downloads
References
Agustin, A. C., Laksmi, E. D., & Suharyadi. (2021). Speaking performance and grammatical competence across cognitive learning styles and strategy inventory for language learning (SILL). Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora, 9(3), 101–113. https://journal.um.ac.id/index.php/jph/article/view/15120
Barker, T. H., Hasanoff, S., Aromataris, E., Stone, J. C., Leonardi-Bee, J., Sears, K., Klugar, M., Tufanaru, C., Moola, S., Liu, X.-L., & Munn, Z. (2026). The revised JBI critical appraisal tool for the assessment of risk of bias for analytical cross-sectional studies. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 24(3), 401-408. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-24-00523
Fadila, M. Z. R., & Hartono. (2026). The correlation between grammar mastery and basic English speaking skills: A case of beginners at AGNES Course Kediri. Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research, 7(1), 79–90. https://doi.org/10.30659/jamr.7.1.79-90
Hanafi, M., & Septiana, A. R. (2024). Revealing the correlation between students’ grammatical competence and speaking performance. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 4(6), 5582–5591. https://doi.org/10.31004/innovative.v4i6.17044
Ilam, V., Widhiasih, L. K. S., & Murtini, N. M. W. (2022). The correlation between grammar mastery and speaking ability of the eighth grade students. Academic Journal on English Studies, 2(2), 159–171. https://e-journal.unmas.ac.id/index.php/ajoes/article/view/5922
Lojan Caicedo, J. A., Cango Patiño, A. E., Muñoz Alvarez, A. N., & Ocampo Arévalo, T. V. (2026). Speaking skills and grammar knowledge among English as a foreign language learners at a public high school in Marcabeli, 2025–2026 school year. Ciencia y Reflexión, 5(1), 672–694. https://doi.org/10.70747/cr.v5i1.810
Madina, Gulo, C. A., Gurning, S. R., Simanungkalit, T. A., & Gea, M. (2024). The correlation between students’ grammar ability and students’ speaking ability in SMP Panca Budi Medan. International Journal of Integrative Sciences, 3(1), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.55927/ijis.v3i1.7931
Multazam, Ruslin, Minabari, M., Ihsan, M., & Rasmi. (2024). The correlation between students grammar mastery and speaking ability of the eighth grade students at SMPN 5 Sojol Indonesia. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(9), 1132–1141. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.809096
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Saputra, A., Nurasmawati, & Amelia, Y. (2021). The correlation between grammar competency and speaking ability of the eighth grade students in SMPN 1 Palu. Datokarama English Education Journal, 2(2), 113–137. https://doi.org/10.24239/dee.v2i2.39
Saputri, T., Hasanah, A., & Desvitasari, D. (2026). The correlation between students’ grammar mastery and their speaking achievement at English Education. LITERAL: English Teaching and Learning Journal, 5(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.19109/literal.v5i1.36891
Susriani, Hente, A., & Naniwarsih, A. (2021). Correlation between grammar mastery and speaking ability of the eighth grade students of SMP Negeri 15 Palu. Jurnal Kolaboratif Sains, 4(8), 413–416. https://doi.org/10.56338/jks.v4i8.1943
Tenio, R. S. (2024). Grammatical competence and speaking skills. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 27(8), 862–868. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14054708
Tiana, D. M., Jimmi, & Lestari, R. (2023). The effect of grammar mastery and self-esteem towards students’ speaking skill. SCOPE: Journal of English Language Teaching, 7(2), 157–164. https://doi.org/10.30998/scope.v7i2.15343
Ulfa, N., Hardi, V. A., & Ayu, C. (2022). The correlation between grammar mastery and speaking skill of the eleven grade students of SMAN 1 Koto Kampar Hulu. TELL-US Journal, 8(3), 49–56. https://doi.org/10.22202/tus.2022.v8i3.6221
Umami, K., Kardena, A., Safitri, L., & Amiza, E. (2024). The correlation between grammar ability and students speaking skill at 10th grade students of MAN Lima Puluh Kota. Education Achievement: Journal of Science and Research, 5(3), 1153–1161. https://doi.org/10.51178/jsr.v5i3.2178
Windiani, Kuliahana, A., & Fatima. (2025). The correlation between students’ grammar mastery and students’ speaking skills of the tenth grade students at MAN 2 Palu. Journal of Cultural Narratives in Digital Society, 1(1), 56–61. https://doi.org/10.26740/jcnds.v1i1.42599
Yudha, M. H. I., Lekatompessy, F. M., & Patty, J. (2023). The correlation between students’ grammar proficiency and speaking fluency: A study in English Education Study Program. Pattimura Excellence Journal of Language and Culture, 3(1), 32–44. https://doi.org/10.30598/PEJLac.v3i1.pp32-44
Zam Zam, F., Suriaman, A., Rofiqoh, & Budi. (2021). The correlation between grammar and speaking skill of undergraduate students. Exposure: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, 10(2), 250–262. https://doi.org/10.26618/exposure.v10i2.5676
Zarabi, H., Yamrali, N., & Gharani, N. (2023). The relationship among Iranian advanced EFL learners’ speaking, writing, and grammatical knowledge. The Journal of English Language Pedagogy and Practice, 15(31), 115–139. https://doi.org/10.30495/jal.2023.1982693.1475
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Scientific Journal of Educational Innovation and Current Society "ALCON". ISSN 2960-8473
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
