The aim of our study is to expose the obstacles that impede oral expression in the French as a foreign language classroom in the context of the courses taught at the University of Cape Town (UCT). To achieve this aim, we questioned the first year students of French who constituted the main thrust of our research. After carrying out some investigations, we realised that there are four main obstacles hindering oral expression at UCT: pedagogical obstacles, linguistic, psychological and sociocultural ones. From these results, we tried to make suggestions and to formulate recommendations. In the formulation of these recommendations, we have tried to adhere as closely as possible to the students’s suggestions.