Bibliometric Analysis of Research on L2 Speaking Skills for the Period of 2020 – 2024

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the scholarly literature on second language (L2) speaking skills published between 2020 and 2024. A total of 233 relevant documents were retrieved from the Scopus database, ensuring a focused, high-quality, and representative dataset. To systematically analyze the data, we employed Microsoft Excel for initial data cleaning and sorting, VOSviewer for visualizing co-authorship and keyword networks, and RStudio (with Bibliometrix) for advanced bibliometric mapping and quantitative analysis. The study explores multiple dimensions of the field, including the annual growth of publications, institutional and author productivity, citation impact, and keyword frequency across the selected years. Special attention is given to the keywords used by leading authors, which help to uncover foundational research themes, conceptual trends, and emerging areas of inquiry. By analyzing citation patterns and keyword co-occurrences, the study identifies influential authors, prominent research clusters, and dominant themes within the literature on L2 speaking skills. The findings reveal a gradual transition from traditional teaching methods to more innovative and technology-supported approaches, including the integration of AI, mobile-assisted learning, virtual tools, and sociocultural perspectives. Furthermore, the analysis highlights underexplored areas, offering strategic guidance for future research agendas and contributing to the ongoing evolution of L2 speaking pedagogy.