scholarly journals Low proficiency students: can we help them to speak confidently?

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Muriatul Khusmah Musa ◽  
Rushita Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Small Groups ◽  
Fairy Tale ◽  
Group Decision ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
English Class ◽  
Equal Chance ◽  
Group Members ◽  
English Speaking

This action research was carried out to find out whether the speaking activities that were done during English lessons could encourage the low proficiency students to speak English confidently. These students admitted that they were afraid of speaking English, particularly in front of their classmates. They had very low self- confidence and felt very anxious when they were asked to speak or present in English. For this research, five speaking tasks were incorporated in the English class with the aim of building up students’ confidence and at the same time encouraging them to speak and participate in the English speaking activities. The five tasks were: self- introduction, fairy tale role-play, open mic, product advertisement campaign and group decision making. These activities were carried out individually as well as in small groups. In short, all the students were given an equal chance to speak English and actively participate as individuals and as group members. Students’ positive responses signify the speaking tasks have helped to reduce their speaking anxiety, build up their confidence in speaking English and improve their speaking skills.

scholarly journals The Effects of Anxiety Toward Acehnese Students' English Speaking Ability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Habiburrahim Habiburrahim ◽  
Risdaneva Risdaneva ◽  
Ghina Putri ◽  
Syarifah Dahliana ◽  
Safrul Muluk
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Education ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
The Subject

In this study, we analyzed the effects of speaking anxiety of Acehnese students in English learning classroom by looking at the causes of students’ speaking anxiety and their strategies in coping with it. The researchers used purposive sampling to select the participants of this research. Ten respondents from sophomore students of Department of the English Education at Teacher Training Faculty of Ar-Raniry State Islamic University in Aceh, Indonesia were selected by identifying their answers of Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety questionnaires developed by Horwitz et al. (1986). To have in-depth information on the subject matter, a semi-structured interview was employed. The results of this research showed that speaking anxiety caused some negative effects to Acehnese students’ speaking ability, which could be observed through the difficulties in constructing sentences and expressing the idea when they spoke in the target language. Low self-confidence, lack of competency, and being afraid of making mistakes were some of the factors considered as the major causes of speaking anxiety that could debilitate students’ classroom participation.

scholarly journals Students’ Speaking Anxiety in English Education Study Program

ELT-Lectura ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-83
Author(s):  
Wandi Syahfutra
Keyword(s):  
English Education ◽  
Private University ◽  
Public University ◽  
Education Department ◽  
Study Program ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Education Study ◽  
English Speaking

This study explores speaking anxiety: the identification of speaking anxiety in English education study program. Using a mixed methods approach, this research selected two different categories, students studying in English Education Department private university and those studying in English Education Department in public university as research participants. The findings suggest that the main factors of speaking anxiety causes at public university were essentially affected by nervousness and idea delivery. Nevertheless, English students in private university claimed that their dominant cause is rooted from self-confidence; considering mistakes and lecturers’ attitude during English speaking performance. This research is beneficial in enriching literature in the scope of English education department, especially in Indonesia and others state adopting English as foreign language. It is crucial to note that students’ voice is worth to listen, as a reflection for English teachers or lecturers identifying their students’ speaking anxiety to apply appropriate and a more effective learning method.   

Investigating the Causes and Negative Effects of English Language Speaking Anxiety: A Case Study among EFL Learners at Kandahar University

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 10-21
Author(s):  
Ahmad Anwari
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Oral Performance ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
English Speaking

The present study has been conducted to investigate the causes of English language speaking anxiety among EFL learners at Kandahar University. Furthermore, the second goal of the study to investigate the negative effects of speaking anxiety. This study uses a quantitative research approach. Similarly, the questionnaire had two parts the first part had comprised 14 items and the second part 7 items and applied randomly. Besides, the data analyzing was performed in SPSS (version, 24) and bring out the mean and standard division. Finally, the findings revealed those factors which caused EFL learners to feel anxiety during English speaking and numbered as follow: (1) I feel fear of making pronunciation mistakes, (2) I am afraid that my classmates will laugh at me when I speak English. (3) I feel worried during Performing communication orally. In addition, the following factors are the negative effects of anxiety on learners: (1) Anxiety limits my speaking fluency, (2) Anxiety causes me to become under pressure during presentation and (3) Anxiety decreases my oral performance and self-confidence.

Discussion of Shared Information Can Increase the Influence of Divergent Members

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyn M. Van Swol ◽  
Michael T. Braun ◽  
Emily E. Acosta Lewis ◽  
Cassandra L. Carlson ◽  
Giovanna Dimperio
Keyword(s):  
Information Sharing ◽  
Small Groups ◽  
Confidence Level ◽  
Group Decision ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Linear Discrepancy ◽  
Discrepancy Model ◽  
Shared Information ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Pledge Of Allegiance

Based on the theoretical frameworks of information-sharing in groups and the linear discrepancy model, this study highlights the importance of communicating shared information for a divergent member to influence a group. Participants received information concerning whether “under God” should be in the Pledge of Allegiance. After stating individual opinions, they discussed the issue in small groups and came to a group decision on a continuous, ordered scale. Low divergent members, who had opinions closer to the average of other group members, had more influence than high divergent members. Group members with high divergence were more confident and talked more than others. However, there was no relationship between the amount divergent members talked or their confidence level and their amount of influence. Highly divergent group members who mentioned more shared information were more influential and came across as more knowledgeable.

scholarly journals Investigating the Causes and Negative Effects of English Language Speaking Anxiety: A Case Study among EFL Learners at Kandahar University

2019 ◽  
pp. 10-21
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Oral Performance ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
English Speaking

The present study has been conducted to investigate the causes of English language speaking anxiety among EFL learners at Kandahar University. Furthermore, the second goal of the study to investigate the negative effects of speaking anxiety. This study uses a quantitative research approach. Similarly, the questionnaire had two parts the first part had comprised 14 items and the second part 7 items and applied randomly. Besides, the data analyzing was performed in SPSS (version, 24) and bring out the mean and standard division. Finally, the findings revealed those factors which caused EFL learners to feel anxiety during English speaking and numbered as follow: (1) I feel fear of making pronunciation mistakes, (2) I am afraid that my classmates will laugh at me when I speak English. (3) I feel worried during Performing communication orally. In addition, the following factors are the negative effects of anxiety on learners: (1) Anxiety limits my speaking fluency, (2) Anxiety causes me to become under pressure during presentation and (3) Anxiety decreases my oral performance and self-confidence.

scholarly journals Identifying Emergent Leaders in Small Groups in the Language Learning Classroom: An Exploratory Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
Paul Leeming
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Small Groups ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Group Leader ◽  
Emergent Leadership ◽  
Individual Difference Variables ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Perceived Leadership ◽  
Group Members ◽  
English Speaking

Researchers claim that when students work together in small groups in the language classroom, a single student often emerges as a group leader and that teachers should construct groups based on roles adopted by students. This advice is based on the assumptions that leaders emerge and that teachers can identify leaders in their own classrooms. This paper reports on research that empirically tested these assumptions. Students working in small, fixed groups rated their group members based on perceived leadership. The teacher was responsible for identifying the leader in each group. Individual difference variables of English proficiency, extroversion, and English-speaking self-efficacy (SE) were used to predict emergent leadership. In most groups clear leaders emerged, but the teacher accurately identified the leader in only half of the cases. The findings suggest that teachers should regularly vary group membership and be cautious when assigning roles within groups. 語学の授業において、学生が少人数のグループで活動していると、リーダーが一人現れることがしばしばある、ということが研究者により指摘されている。そして教師は学生それぞれの役割に基づいてグループを作るべきであるという提案がなされている。これは、授業において現れるリーダーを教師は特定できるという想定に基づいている。本稿では、これらの想定を実践的に検証した研究について述べる。固定メンバーの小グループで活動を行う学生たちが、自分の考えるリーダーシップに基づいて自分のグループのメンバーを評価した。また、教師も各グループのリーダーを特定した。グループ内で現れるリーダーを予測するために、英語能力、外向性、英語スピーキングの自己効力感、という個人差が使用された。ほとんどのグループで明確なリーダーが現れたが、教師がそのリーダーを正確に特定できたのは、クラス全体の半分にすぎなかった。検証の結果、グループメンバーを定期的に入れ替えるべきである事と、グループ内で役割を決めるときには十分に注意が必要だと言うことが分かった。 Keywords: emergent leaders; group work; pedagogy; TBLT

scholarly journals English Language Speaking Anxiety, Self-Confidence and Perceived Ability among Science and Technology Undergraduate Students: A Rasch Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (S3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal J I Badrasawi ◽  
Noor Lide Abu Kassim ◽  
Ainol Madziah Zubairi ◽  
Elia Md Johar ◽  
Siti Sakinah Sidik
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Academic Program ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Perceived Ability ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
English Speaking

The purpose of this paper is to analyse English language speaking anxiety, self-confidence, and perceived ability in English oral communication among Science and Technology undergraduate students. It also aims to identify any significant differences in these constructs based on selected students’ demographic variables. The study employed the survey method with a 41-item questionnaire administered to a voluntary response sample of three hundred 3rd and 4th-year science and technology undergraduates from three Malaysian public universities. The Polytomous Rasch model was used to analyse the data. The analysis showed that the participants experienced English speaking anxiety, low confidence, and high perceived ability in English oral communication. There were significant mean differences in English speaking anxiety across the type of university as well as in confidence and perceived ability based on academic program. The participants were more confident and could perform better in familiar situations and communicate on familiar topics to familiar audiences. The findings suggest that the participants need more training on English oral communication. More authentic situations are also needed for them to practise and improve their proficiency levels. Other suggestions include providing lecturers with training modules, re-assessing the current language policies, and implementing certain programmes at the tertiary education level. Language programmes could be directed towards more social situations to enable undergraduates to make English a social practice, lower English speaking anxiety, and boost confidence.

A Formal Approach to Handling Conflicts in Multiattribute Group Decision Making

2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 678-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tung-King See ◽  
Kemper Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Group Decision Making ◽  
Group Decision ◽  
Decision Problems ◽  
Team Leaders ◽  
Formal Approach ◽  
Aggregation Functions ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Problem Data

Supporting the decision of a group in engineering design is a challenging and complicated problem when issues like consensus and compromise must be taken into account. In this paper, we present the foundations of the group hypothetical equivalents and inequivalents method and two fundamental extensions making it applicable to new classes of group decision problems. The first extension focuses on updating the formulation to place unequal importance on the preferences of the group members. The formulation presented in this paper allows team leaders to emphasize the input from certain group members based on experience or other factors. The second extension focuses on the theoretical implications of using a general class of aggregation functions. Illustration and validation of the developments are presented using a vehicle selection problem. Data from ten engineering design groups are used to demonstrate the application of the method.

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