Developing the Speaking Skill in English as a Foreign Language through Project-Based Learning The Case of Second Year Students of English Language at Batna 2 University. Doctorat thesis, (2022) Université de Batna 2.
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Date
2022-03-08
Authors
HARROUG Dhikra
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Abstract
Developing EFL students’ speaking skills is of vital importance in the teaching and learning process. Thus, teachers have to adapt and integrate the latest techniques and strategies. This research aims at investigating the effects of the Project-Based Learning (PBL) instruction on EFL students’ speaking skill through conducting a case study on second year students at the Department of English at Batna 2 University. We hypothesized that PBL may be an effective teaching approach that develops students’ speaking skills and that increases their engagement and interest in the oral lessons. Besides, students would show positive attitudes towards the integration of PBL in oral expression subject. To test the validity of these research hypotheses and to achieve the research objectives, the mixed method of both quasi-experimental and descriptive methods were conducted. The study was carried out during the academic year 2018-2019 on seventy-two (72) convenientlyselected second-year students and nine (9) purposively-selected teachers of the oral expression subject. The students were divided into experimental and control groups with thirty-six (36) students in each. The qualitative and quantitative data were collected using speaking tests, students’ attitudinal questionnaire, and a post-experiment focus group interview to explore the experimental group’s views and attitudes towards PBL. The research findings show that PBL significantly developed the students’ speaking skill, and that the experimental group outperformed the control group at the level of their oral performance. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the experimental group has positive attitudes towards PBL, and that the latter is effective in developing not only the speaking skill, but it also increases students’ engagement in the oral classes and enhances their autonomous learning. Following these findings, a seriesof recommendations and suggestions for further research were proposed.