scholarly journals A Comparative Study for Understanding the Problems Faced by Male and Female Undergraduate Students in Acquisition of Speaking Skill Competence, While Learning English as a Foreign Language in Karachi, Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 266
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ali Shaikh ◽  
Nadia Saeed ◽  
Subhash Guriro ◽  
Stephen John ◽  
Zahid Hussain Sathito

Pakistan is one of the developing countries where English is taught from primary to graduation level as a compulsory subject, but it is observed and quoted by a number of researchers in their research that the EFL learners are found weak in one of the basic language learning skill i.e., speaking. Keeping in view this issue of learners this research study was conducted to investigate the types of difficulties the male and female learners of EFL face in acquisition of speaking skills competence and to get their suggestions, which they expect from teachers or authorities to do in their endeavors of improving speaking skill competence in overcoming the difficulties faced by them. The sample consisting of 120 undergraduate students from 10 universities was selected. A questionnaire having 10 close-ended and 05 open-ended items was distributed among the participants. The analysis of quantitative data suggests that comparatively males give more importance to skill for success in career than female, moreover they are more hesitant than females because of lack of confidence, afraid of mistakes and of being criticized, etc. while analysis of qualitative data reveals that only 27% participants are satisfied by their speaking skills competence, 51% were unable to reason what is important for mastering speaking skills, 20% said, they are unable to speak because of lack of confidence, 38% feel speaking skill is the most difficult skill, while 35% favored classroom activities for improving speaking skill competence. On the basis of findings from the suggestions of the participants, it is concluded that if teachers arrange classroom activities, then there will be a positive impact on students’ confidence as activities will improve the speaking skill competence of the learners.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Lawarn Sirisrimangkorn

Project-based learning has been variously integrated into EFL instruction to promote learners’ language learning and skills. The objectives of this research study were to examine the effects of project-based learning using presentation on EFL undergraduate learners’ speaking skills. Furthermore, this study sought to explore learners’ opinions on the use of project-based learning using presentation. The participants of this study were 31 second-year undergraduate students who majored in Business English. The research instruments in this study included speaking tests, project-based learning instructions, questionnaires, and interviews. The obtained data were analyzed by quantitative and qualitative methods for the result interpretation. The findings of this study revealed that students’ speaking skills had significantly improved after the project-based learning implementation. Moreover, the students expressed positive opinions towards project-based learning using presentation as it was perceived to have helped improve their speaking skills. The findings from the interviews revealed that the project-based learning using presentation was positive for learners’ speaking skills according to their presentation tasks, scaffolding activities, and practice of integrative skills. A cooperative learning environment is perceived as useful for learners’ speaking skill improvement. However, time constraint posed a major challenge in the study. Further studies are recommended to encompass a community-based context for speaking skill improvement. Instructional implications derived from the findings include implementing project-based learning using presentation in order to provide learners with an authentic English speaking context and to promote the integrated skills.


Author(s):  
SAGAR NARAYANAN

Speaking is one of the basic language skills. Personality is called ‘personality’. Therefore, it is very important to have influence on speech as well as how much physical and mental resources are essential for personality development. This study examines the extent to which personality skills are important for a teacher to be able to speak in the teaching of learning. This dissertation was based on a book review and an observation among Tamil teachers at school. Vocabulary is the ability to take the word. Vocabulary is required to be a leader in any field, no matter who you are. This study examines the importance or influence of speaking skills among teachers. Approaches such as observation and interview were carried out among the Tamil teachers in this study. Speaking skill in classroom teaching is an important part of every teacher. Conceptual speaking and clear speech will refine classroom teaching. Improving these elements will help students in the classroom and fully engage in their learning. This review was conducted from a number of angles for each teacher to dominate in speaking skill. This study shows that effective learning in teaching can be achieved if each teacher acquires an influential personality in speaking skills.


Needs Analysis in the context of language-learning-teaching is an important process to design a certain course and syllabus. It helps course designers to set objectives, choose content, method of instruction, appropriate teaching aids, and classroom activities for different courses. This paper reports the perceptions of the researchers on the English language learning needs of the English undergraduate students of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Pakistan. The data is based on the researchers’ personal experience and first-hand observation of the population as the researchers have been teaching in the target context for about a decade. Furthermore, the researchers have always been in discussion with their students and colleagues about the target students’ English learning needs, preferred learning styles, motivation in learning English, interest, strengths/weaknesses, and attitude toward English learning in the target setting. Learners’ assignments, exam answer sheets, and presentations have also been used is a source of data collection. A needs analysis model proposed by Hutchinson and Waters (1987) has been applied in order to analyze the data. The results show that the students lack well grammatical sentences, have poor spellings, capitalization problems, limited vocabulary, unaware of collocations, poor/slow reading comprehension, and lack of effective presentation skills. Furthermore, most of the students have a lack of involvement in classroom activities and feel shy about speaking the English language. It was reported that the provision of authentic material, interesting activities, suitable audio-visual aids, relevant texts, language labs, and other logistic arrangements can better help them in learning the English language. The findings demonstrate that the students wished to have a learner-centered-course that helps them excel in their academic life and learning the English language.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-70
Author(s):  
Kausar Perveen ◽  
Yamna Hasan ◽  
Abdur Rahman Aleemi

Individuals who have fear speaking publically suffer from strong fear in social performance situations and social sphere. (Stein, Walker, & Forde, 1996).This research aims to investigate (a) if the level of anxiety is higher in females then males while speaking publically. (b) if students tend to be more anxious while speaking infront of opposite gender (c) if there is an association between reduction in public speaking fear in students and adaptation of effective psycho-physiological strategies for language learning. Samples of 126 undergraduate students have been selected in an equal ratio of male and female students from university of Karachi. Frequency and percentage analysis has been made to determine the level of public speaking fear in male and female students. A factorial ANOVA has been applied for comparative analysis of anxiety levels in males and females while presenting in front of the opposite gender. Further, a paired t-test has been applicable to determine if psychophysiological strategies for language learning are effective for reduction in glossophobia. The study affirmed that female students get more anxious then males while giving speech publically. It has also found that there is no effect of gender of audience on anxiety level of students during public speaking. Public speaking anxiety has a strong relationship with the adaptation of psycho-physiological strategies and can be reduced effectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Arif Nugroho ◽  
Novrika Nartiningrum

<p>Among the four English skills, oral communication becomes crucial for undergraduate students to be more competitive in the work-places. In a foreign language teaching, designing appropriate classroom activities is a prerequisite for the success of a language learning. Therefore, this study sheds some light on 92 EFL learners’ perceptions and insights of classroom activities for teaching speaking. Drawing on the data obtained from questionnaire and focus group discussion (FGD), the findings illustrated that the students held moderately positive perceptions toward the speaking activities in their classroom. In addition, the results of FGD revealed some insights from the students with regard to the ideal classroom activities for teaching speaking. The findings of this study provide insights for EFL teachers in designing appropriate classroom activities to achieve the success of teaching speaking.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>teaching speaking, classroom activities, students’ perception</p>


2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
July Carolina Gomez Lobaton

This research project aims at identifying and analyzing different identities students construct as learners of a foreign language wheninteracting within an EFL classroom, and how this identity construction might have possible effects on students’ language learning process.This study, which was carried out with undergraduate students from a private university in Bogotá, was the product of permanent observationto the development of students language learning process (specially speaking skill) and how the implicit or explicit student-teacher interactionmight constitute an important element to this development, relies under the principles of CCDA (Critical Classroom Discourse Analysis). Theidea of implementing this research methodology has to do with the need of looking beyond fixed categorizations and rather listen to howlearners negotiate different identities as they employ diverse cultural and linguistic resources to construct knowledge in classrooms. Throughoutthe process of data collection, with transcripts of oral interactions undertaken in the classroom and interviews to students as main sources ofanalysis, a new perspective of pupils as social actors who hold multiple social identities was discovered. The results show that issues such asthe use of L1 in the EFL classroom, the teacher‘s conception of language learning and teaching and the silent fight for power among teacherand students constitute important elements in the struggle of students when constructing their social and individual identities as learners withina given classroom community.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Sabila Nur Risma

Speaking is one of the productive skills that should be learned and mastered by English learners which gives them the ability to communicate effectively in this global world. However, most learners face difficulties in learning English, especially in mastering speaking skills. The lack of motivation in learning English is the most common problem faced by learners. With the development of technology, employing Zoom Application in learning English is recommended for fun and exciting learning. This research aims to analyze how applying Zoom Application can improve English learners’ motivation to speak in English. The descriptive qualitative method is used in this research and to gain the data, the researcher used some instruments, there are questionnaires and interviews, which were carried out to 30 learners in English Zoom Club as subjects of the research. The result of this research suggested that applying Zoom Application is very interesting since it provides such motivating and stimulating activities for English learners. Moreover, using Zoom Application make English learners have an appropriate platform and new friends to practice improving their speaking skill at the same time. Keywords:  Speaking Skill, Motivation in Language Learning, Zoom Application  


ASALIBUNA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Putri Kholida Faiqoh

Language Environment Approach (Bi’ah Lughowiyah) is a language learning approach that aims to enhance the ability of learners in a foreign language through the utilization of the environment as a learning resource. Speaking skills (Maharah Kalam) are one type of productive skills of learners who require the ability to pronounce sounds correctly, it is a major part of the curriculum of foreign language learning. The Al-Amanah Islamic Boarding School and Darul Hikmah Islamic Boarding School is two of the cottages that there are several activities that aim to develop the ability to speak with students in Arabic, such as Mufrodat Kulla Yaum, Usbu' al-'Araby, Muhadharah, and all of activities about daily speaking skills until monthly. But unfortunately, most students of this cottage did not speak Arabic correctly because mixed by language of their region (Jawa). This research uses a qualitative approach, as well as the type of Multisite research. The results of this study are: 1) The role of Bi'ah Arobiyah in developing Maharah Kalam at the cottage, in terms of the psychological, the role is very helpful, but less. In terms of pedagogic, the role is ineffective. In terms of instructional, there is major role. 2) Supporting factors of Bi'ah Arobiyah that affect the ability of students to speaking Arabic, the position and the positive appreciation of all the inhabitants of the cottage to the Arabic language, Arabic learning materials, Language Activator Division of cottage, rules and punishment, the implementation of the teaching-learning processing a fun atmosphere, and strong motivation of most students. And the inhibiting factors are: the lack of a good education funding for the implementation of Bi'ah Arobiyah, at least media language learning, and most students of this cottage did not speak Arabic correctly because mixed by language of their region. And to solve the problems, intensive evaluation followed by corrections in learning is needed. Keywords: Arabic Environment, Arabic Speaking Skill


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astri Yulia ◽  
Nor Azilah Husin ◽  
Faiz I Anuar

Technology adoption in classrooms has impacted the way educational practitioners conduct assessments. Online quizzes are preferred compared to paper-pencil based tests. However, very few information that explains the contribution of online assessment towards holistic attainment of students in English. The present study aimed at examining the effects of online assessments on students’ performance. This research employed a quasi-experimental study to evaluate the role of interactive online assessments toward students’ performance in English. Eighty-six undergraduate students in TESL participated in this study; 53 were randomly assigned to the online group while 33 were assigned to the control group. The research computed t-tests to compare the performance of both groups on five different assessments. The results revealed that the online assessment group performed better on four assessments tested—listening and reading skills. The control group performed significantly higher on the assessment that involved presentation (evaluated speaking skill). These findings indicate that online assessments enhance students’ mastery of listening, reading, and writing skill but rather not so much influence on verbal skills. This research implies that educational practitioners should not entirely rely on interactive online platforms. To incorporate the blended-learning approach, classroom activities must consist of a combination of online and offline strategies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Fatimawati ADI BADIOZAMAN

Many foreign university branch campuses in Malaysia make it compulsory for students to undertake academic literacy units (i.e. Reading for Academic Purposes, Technical Report Writing) in order to equip them with language skills as well as reading and writing for academic purposes. Despite the ubiquitousness of such units in universities, little is known about their effectiveness. This longitudinal study aims to address this gap. This paper reports on data collected from the first phase of a mixed methods study that seeks to explore (i) students’ self-concept in academic writing, (ii) perceived impact of the Academic Writing (AW) unit on the writing development and (iii) the transferability of skills to other academic units. Findings from the questionnaire revealed that the AW unit had a significant positive impact on their writing skills and that the skills acquired were reported to be highly transferable to other study units. Nevertheless, to ensure academic success, the study concludes that the foundations for first year studies need to be laid early. Keywords: academic writing, L2 writing, academic language-learning needs, language learning, English for academic purposes (EAP)


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