Enhancing ESL Students’ Oral Competency through TBLT Strategies in the Framework of Action Research

Abstract

This chapter is aimed to incestigate whether and to what extent Task-Based Language Teaching Strategies help students improve their speaking ability and to describe the teaching and learning situation of EFL classrooms when TBLT was implemented as perceived by the students. Speaking is the most significant, of all four language skills, in an EFL/ESL setting. Speaking skill distinguishes human beings from other living species. All human languages are primarily spoken in form and written form comes later. For EFL learners, speaking happens to be the most challenging of all four skills i.e. listening, speaking, reading and writing. To carry out the set objectives, the researchers conducted this classroom-based action research using Mixed-Methods of research in a Public Girls' College, in Hyderabad. The research tools included questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, TBLT lesson plans, evaluation forms, classroom observations and follow-up interviews. The participants of the study were 150 randomly selected undergraduate female students, 15 female students of B.S. II (Computer Science department) and 5 female language teachers in a public college, in Hyderabad. Accuracy in speaking remains a crucial aspect of effective communication in 2023. The ability to express oneself clearly and accurately is highly valued in professional and educational settings. To assess the subjects' speaking abilities before and after the intervention, pre- and post-tests were administered. Speaking abilities were evaluated for accuracy and fluency. To determine the difference in their oral performance before and after the intervention, the results of the pre-test and post-test were compared. According to the study's findings, the ESL students performed better on the post-test orally. The qualitative data analysis revealed that the ESL students had a positive perception of TBLT and they noticed an adequate change in the environment of the English compulsory class and found it a conducive teaching situation to learn to speak. Moreover, the researchers found TBLT strategies effective in improving students’ speaking skills, for increasing their fluency and confidence level in speaking. However, to make learners more accurate in speaking, they need to practice speaking more. The study resulted in promising outcomes which can be beneficial at college levels if future studies are conducted in this area as Speaking remains an ignored skill at government colleges of Sindh province. Moreover, it is anticipated that the study in hand would help improve other language skills in the English language for other researchers to work on.