scholarly journals Non-English Majors’ Attitudes towards Using YouTube to Improve Speaking Skills

2021 ◽  
pp. 38-48
Author(s):  
Nguyen Dinh

This study aimed to explore students’ attitudes towards using YouTube to improve speaking skills at the context of a Binh Duong based university. A total of one hundred and fifty students participated in the research. Both quantitative and qualitative data was obtained through two instruments, namely questionnaires and interview. For analysing the data collected, descriptive statistics and content analysis were employed. The results of the study revealed that non-English majors hade positive attitudes towards using YouTube to improve speaking skills. More interestingly, the findings revealed that they had affective attitudes towards the use of YouTube higher than the cognitive and behavioural attitudes. The study also made several suggestions for both teachers and students with the aim of contributing a small part to the teaching and learning of English speaking skills.

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Feras Al-Esaifer Saleh A Al-Esaifer ◽  
Hisham Alshareef Mohammed A. Alshareef

This research investigated the common problems and difficulties that face 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate students in developing their speaking skills. The qualitative approaches (interview and observation) were used as methods of collecting data of this study. Four classes were involved in the classroom observation, twenty students from this cohort and four teachers were interviewed. Some of the difficulties which were introduced in this study were related to the poor classroom conditions and methods that teachers employ in teaching speaking skills. Some other difficulties were related to pronunciation, including adding extra vowels and intonation and stress. Furthermore, there were other difficulties regarding the lack of vocabulary, which lead the students to avoid practicing their problems, have been provided in this study. The findings of this study are important as they represent the most influential factors which appear to be responsible for the problems of developing 2nd and 3rd year under- graduate students speaking skills. Recognition of the problems outlined in the first step of this study in order to supply appropriate solutions for overcoming these difficulties. In addition, these findings draw attention towards the importance of helping both the foreign language teachers and students to change their perspective about teaching and learning English speaking skills.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-60
Author(s):  
Kavi S. Mohammed

Politeness is considered to promote effective interaction between people. In the process of language teaching and learning, it is believed to enhance learning by providing a lively and friendly atmosphere in the classroom (Jiang, 2010). During classroom periods, including class policy, activities, and techniques, a teacher’s language plays a critical role; it also plays an important role while giving academic instructions, motivating the class, and during the evaluation of a student’s performance and participation. This paper approaches classroom interaction from a pragmatic perspective by adopting Leech’s politeness principle and maxims. It aims to answer the following 2 questions: first, “what are the teachers’ attitudes toward the implementation of the politeness principle during classroom interactions?” and second, “what are the students’ attitudes toward the implementation of the politeness principle during classroom interactions?” To achieve the aims of this study by finding answers to the questions, the researcher prepared 2 sets of questionnaires: 1 for the teachers in the English Department and 1 for the fourth year students in the same department at the College of Basic Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Iran, for the academic year of 2018 to 2019. By analyzing the data collected, it was found that both the teachers and students have positive attitudes toward the politeness maxims and the implementation thereof during classroom interactions; furthermore, there was agreement between the teachers’ and students’ responses to the questionnaires for most of the politeness maxims except in 3 cases, which were for the maxims of sympathy, obligation (S to O), and feeling reticence.


Author(s):  
Tran Thi Thien Trang ◽  
Nguyen Thi Phuong Hong

The purpose of this paper was to investigate whether mobile video recording task-based approach helps non-English majored students enhance their speaking skills. Forty students were selected and assigned to two groups: experimental group and control group. Mobile video recording was presented to experimental students while no training was given to students in the control group in the same task-based approach. The data was assessed to find out whether there were significant differences in terms of fluency, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. A questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were also implemented to explore students’ attitudes on the treatment. The study’s results revealed that students in the group treated with mobile video recording task-based approach significantly outperformed those in the control group. Furthermore, the results of the questionnaire and semi-structured interview revealed that the experimental students had positive attitudes towards using mobile video recording to practice speaking English. The study’s findings have led to several ideas and recommendations for the teachers, the students as well as the teaching and learning speaking in Vietnam.


2020 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
pp. 65-75
Author(s):  
Xiaozhou (Emily) Zhou ◽  
XiaoLing Huang ◽  
Jili He

Abstract. Research into pedagogical translanguaging in second/foreign language education has largely been focused on the interplay between two languages, one of which is usually English. Little attention has been paid to the practice of trilingual translanguaging (translanguaging between three languages), and how this can be helpful in the acquisition of a third language. This study, conducted in two Spanish as a third language classrooms in a Chinese university, aims to explore teachers’ translanguaging practices as well as the teachers’ and students’ attitudes to these practices. Analysis of data collected through audio-assisted classroom observation, interviews, and questionnaires reveals that teachers proactively and flexibly mobilize their multilingual resources in classroom talk. Students in general express positive attitudes towards teachers’ translanguaging practices, and express a wish to experience a greater amount of bilingual translanguaging between English (L2) and Spanish (L3). Meanwhile, having access to the views of L3 learners on teachers’ classroom talk proves to be a crucial component in the understanding of how L3 teaching and learning can take place in the most effective way. This study calls for further research into translanguaging practice in multilingual classrooms and its impact on students’ learning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3.1) ◽  
pp. 161-170
Author(s):  
Silvia Elizabeth Cárdenas Sánchez ◽  
Ximena Elizabeth Naranjo Lozada

Introduction. Flipgrid, as a tool to use in class, has been designed in order to help teachers and students record videos and post them on Internet. Research has demonstrated that it works for teaching and learning English since it promotes students´ interactions. Objective. This research aims to analyze students´ points of view about their speaking improvement using Flipgrid. Methodology. There were 65 undergraduate students, with a A2 English level, who participated in this study and they were attending online classes because of the pandemic. Students recorded around five videos individually during the academic period and at the end of the semester they answered a questionnaire and had an interview with the instructor. The interviews were necessary in order to know opinions and attitudes about the use of Flipgrid as an innovative form of instruction of English as a Foreign Language. Results. The results demonstrated that students liked to use Flipgrid and their confidence, motivation, vocabulary, language and pronunciation improved. Conclusion. The use of Flipgrid as an online resource can be beneficial for students in order to promote speaking skills; however, there are some important implications that language instructors need to consider during the language learning process if they decide to use Flipgrid in classes.


Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai ◽  

The present study aims to investigate the reality of teaching and learning English speaking by using communicative activities for students in grade 10th at High schools in Bac Ninh province in Vietnam. There were ten teachers and 300 students participated in the study. Both qualitative and quantitative methodology were applied in the research. The data of research was collected by three research instruments including questionnaires, class observation and interviews. The study proved that teachers used Game, Discussion and Role play more than Class survey. Applying these activities was flexible and dependent upon the cognitive ability of students. Another finding from the survey was that both teachers and students felt interested in using communicative activities in speaking lessons. In the effort of carrying out various methods of research, the study explored the difficulties in the application of communicative for grade 10th students’ English speaking classes at two high schools. With these findings, the research suggestion could help the teachers and students at two high schools improve their quality of teaching and learning English, especially in speaking skills.


The study examined the effectiveness of using student-generated web comics on Pixton as a tool for enhancing students’ performance in meaning making and learning Shakespearean drama among tertiary level students in university. This study explored students’ attitudes towards generating web comics in learning Shakespearean drama. This study was conducted on 35 students who were studying English literature in one of the universities in Iran. This study employed a true experimental of posttest-only control-group research design with a mixed-method approach. The students were chosen based on purposive sampling and were randomly allocated into control group and experimental group. The control group had undergone conventional approach of learning the drama while the experimental group experienced learning through generating web comics in order to learn and construct the meaning of the drama. The instruments used to gather data in this research were post-test and a questionnaire on students’ attitudes. The students were given a post-test after learning the Hamlet play written by W. Shakespeare. The questionnaire was distributed to the students in experimental group after conducting the treatment and post-test. Quantitative data derived from the analysis of post-test were tabulated in descriptive statistics and an Independent T-test. Students’ answers in post-test were also analysed qualitatively. The results of the questionnaire were coded as numerical scores of frequency and percentage for statistical analysis. The findings of the study revealed that the students who used generating web comics attained a better performance and higher academic achievement in meaning making and learning Shakespearean drama compared to the students who were exposed to conventional learning method. The students also developed strongly positive attitudes towards use of student-generated web comics in learning the drama. This study will help teachers and students to create a new positive environment in the classroom with integration of technology, in which they can feel the enjoyment in effective teaching and learning process of Shakespearean drama.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Feras Saleh A Al-Esaifer ◽  
Hisham Mohammed A. Alshareef

This research investigated the common problems and difficulties that face 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate students in developing their speaking skills. The qualitative approaches (interview and observation) were used as methods of collecting data of this study. Four classes were involved in the classroom observation, twenty students from this cohort and four teachers were interviewed. Some of the difficulties which were introduced in this study were related to the poor classroom conditions and methods that teachers employ in teaching speaking skills. Some other difficulties were related to pronunciation, including adding extra vowels and intonation and stress. Furthermore, there were other difficulties regarding the lack of vocabulary, which lead the students to avoid practicing their problems, have been provided in this study. The findings of this study are important as they represent the most influential factors which appear to be responsible for the problems of developing 2nd and 3rd year under- graduate students speaking skills. Recognition of the problems outlined in the first step of this study in order to supply appropriate solutions for overcoming these difficulties. In addition, these findings draw attention towards the importance of helping both the foreign language teachers and students to change their perspective about teaching and learning English speaking skills.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-365
Author(s):  
Khulud Ali Tubayqi ◽  
Mazeegha Ahmed Al Tale’

Using the mother tongue (MT) in English as a foreign or second language (EFL/ESL) classrooms is indispensable, especially in beginner classes. This paper aims to add to the present literature on this issue by highlighting the attitudes of both students and teachers towards MT use in English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom, the justifications for its use, and some of the actual interaction practices in grammar classes. It investigates the attitudes of 110 Saudi EFL female beginners and their two teachers toward using the Arabic language in EFL grammar classes at Jazan University. It also investigates the students’ reasons for using or avoiding their MT. Moreover, it presents some of the functions that MT serves in EFL grammar classes. To collect the data, the researchers used two questionnaires and classroom observations. For data analysis, they used Microsoft Excel and thematic content analysis. The results indicated that, although both students and teachers generally have positive attitudes toward using the MT in EFL classes, they are also aware of the adverse effects of its overuse. The results also revealed that the teachers and students use MT in EFL classes to serve different classroom functions that ease the teaching and learning processes. Based on these findings, the study provided recommendations for teachers, curriculum designers, and future researchers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Pooya Drood ◽  
Hanieh Davatgari Asl

<p>The ways in which task in classrooms has developed and proceeded have receive great attention in the field of language teaching and learning in the sense that they draw attention of learners to the competing features such as accuracy, fluency, and complexity. English audiovisual and audio recorded materials have been widely used by teachers and students, and have been the important resources of teaching and self-study. Nowadays, the environment we are living in is abundant with audio visual input and we as teachers ,thus, should be aware of the fact that environment can change students’ behavior towards language and language learning .What effects do these materials have on English speaking ability? The objective of this study is to find out whether there is difference in Iranian EFL learners’ accuracy in both audiovisual recorded (videos, movies ,etc.) and audio recorded tasks. For this purpose, 40 students of intermediate level were chosen and then were randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups each of which was under different listening tasks. (Audio visual- and audio only). Data analysis showed that the group which was trained under AV listening tasks showed different effects on students’ accuracy, compared to the other group positioned using audio recorded. Based on the results of this study, it is imperative that teachers consider the types of activities and methods that can have influence over language learners’ speaking ability.</p>


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