scholarly journals Using TED Talks for EFL Learners to Boost Their Speaking Skill

Author(s):  
Aulia Hanifah Qomar
Author(s):  
Maryam Bagheri ◽  
Zohre Mohamadi Zenouzagh

AbstractThis study investigated the potentials of face –to- face and computer mediated conversation (CMC) as two speaking modalities on students’ engagement. To this end, 30 Iranian male intermediate EFL learners were selected on the basis of their performance on OPT (Oxford Placement Test) and assigned into the research groups. The progression of face- to- face and CMC groups from limited to elaborate engagement at verbal, paralinguistic and functional levels was assessed using transcription analysis in face-to-face group and chat log analysis in CMC group. The limited and elaborate student engagement indicators in two modalities were identified via Maxqda software. The results of Maxqda analysis indicated that limited engagement was associated with appeal for help, silence, pauses and hesitations, focus on syntax, involvement with procedural talk and L1 use. Respectively, elaborate engagement was associated with avoiding L1 use, focus on discourse, involvement with actual talk and strategic discourse management rather than pause and silence. Chi-square analysis on frequency of indicators of limited and elaborate engagements on verbal, paralinguistic and functional levels indicated that limited and elaborate engagements occurred with different proportions in face-to-face and CMC conversations. Teaching practitioners would benefit the findings of the study since the findings illustrate how students’ engagement in learning evolves and how speaking modalities may impact the pattern of students’ engagement over time. The finding also suggest one way for improving student engagement without over-intervening of teachers is using modalities such as forums where the teacher presence is limited and students have to manage the discourse themselves which in turn increases student engagement.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
Mahshad Safari ◽  
Mansour Koosha

<p>Regarding the fundamental role of speaking in language skills, this study intended to investigate the effects of speaking portfolio as an alternative form of assessment for assessing Iranian EFL learners’ speaking ability at the intermediate and advanced proficiency levels and also its impact on their attitudes. Accordingly, from the population of 72 students studying at Kowsar Language Institute in Esfahan, a sample of 64 male and female intermediate and advanced students were randomly selected based on their scores on an OPT test and they were assigned to 4 groups: intermediate and advanced experimental groups and intermediate and advanced control groups. In order to collect the data, a pretest and a posttest as well as a questionnaire were employed. To analyze the data, an ANOVA and a series of Chi-square were run in the study and the findings indicated that the experimental groups using speaking portfolios performed better than the control groups in terms of speaking ability. Moreover, the result shed light on the advantages of speaking portfolios such as self-assessment, peer-feedback, and improvement of speaking skill. This study provides instructors, administrators, and test developers with alternative ways to improve and assess speaking skill through speaking portfolios.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 704
Author(s):  
Dwi Iswahyuni

Regarding the importance of exploring the use of social media to enhance English skill, this study investigated the use of social media to improve English skill of EFL learners especially non-English college students. The objective of this study was to find out in what ways social media can contribute to the improvement of EFL learners’ English skill. The research method employed in this study was descriptive qualitative method. In gaining data, this study used questionnaire and observation. The results showed that almost all respondents took advantage of social media to learn English. Some social media used were YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, etc. The respondents revealed that by the use of social media, their reading skill (97.3% of the respondents), their writing skill (94.6% of the respondents), their vocabulary mastery (91.9% of the respondents), their listening skill (89.2% of the respondents), their speaking skill (86.5% of the respondents), their grammar mastery (83.8% of the respondents) could be improved. Based on the findings of the study, it can be inferred that social media can contribute to the improvement of EFL learners’ English skill in many ways including reading skill, writing skill, vocabulary mastery, listening skill, speaking skill, and grammar mastery. Keywords:  EFL Learners, English Skill, Social Media


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-58
Author(s):  
Mojgan Rashtchi ◽  
Leila Mohammad Yousefi

Abstract The present study compared the effects of reading input flooding and listening input flooding techniques on the accuracy and complexity of Iranian EFL learners’ speaking skill. Participants were 66 homogeneous intermediate EFL learners who were randomly divided into three groups of 22: Reading input flooding group, listening input flooding group, and control group. The reading flooded input group was exposed to the numerous examples of the target structures through reading. In the same phase, the listening group was given relatively the same task, through listening. The participants’ monologues in the posttest were separately recorded, and later transcribed and coded in terms of accuracy and complexity through Bygate’s (2001) standard coding system. The results of ANCOVA indicated the outperformance of reading input flooding group. The study also supported the trade-off effects (Skehan, 1998, 2009) between accuracy and complexity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1195
Author(s):  
Islam NamazianDoost ◽  
Asadallah Hashemifardnya ◽  
Nasrin Panahi

This study examined the effects of using approximation and appealing for the help techniques on learning speaking skill among Iranian intermediate EFL learners. First sixteen participants out of 120 were chosen for the target population. The participants were then randomly assigned to three equal groups- two experimental groups and one control group. The groups were pretested by a speaking pre-test. Regarding the treatment, the experimental groups were taught by using the communicative approach techniques including approximation and appealing for the help. One experimental group received instruction on how to appeal for the help if their competence cannot come up with the exact word. The other experimental group received instruction on how to compensate failure in conversation by using approximate words. For example, in case of forgetting the exact word they used an approximate word or phrase like using "boat" instead of "ship" or "pipe" for "water pipe". However, the participants in the control group received traditional activities in learning speaking such as question and answer, topic discussion, dialogs and role playing. The treatment took 10 sessions of 45 minutes each under the guidance of the supervisor. Then, the control group and the experimental groups took the post-test of pet. After collecting the data, they were analyzed through using One-way Anova and Post-hoc Scheffe Test- Multiple Comparisons. The findings showed that both experimental groups outperformed than the control group. The results showed that those students who received appealing for the help treatment were better than approximation group and control group.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 301
Author(s):  
Dr. Omer Elsheikh Hago Elmahdi

<p><em>The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which task-based instruction affecting EFL learners’ performance. This paper covers the impact of task approach on EFL learners’ performance. It shades light on the relevant literature reviewed and studies on TBLT. At the same time, t</em><em>he speaking skill and s</em><em>peaking sub-skills are introduced as a base for t</em><em>eaching and developing speaking activities. On the other hand, the paper reflects on implementing task-based instruction and the p</em><em>rinciples for implementation by drawing a framework for implementation, and factors affecting implementation of TBI. On the above findings, the researcher recommends that teaching instruction should be given more attention in EFL classes in the light of using task-based approach. Also the researcher suggests that further research is needed to explore more in the effectiveness of task-based programs on EFL learner’s performance as well as its fluency.</em></p>


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