Developing Speaking Skill Through Debating: Undergraduate EFL Students’ Perception

DOI

10.2991/assehr.k.200417.006How to use a DOI?

Keywords

speaking skill, debating, EFL students’ perception

Abstract

The main focus for students to learn English is to be able to use English in oral communication. However, the problems of students who do not have enough good capability in English is because the students feel too shy to speak or afraid of making mistakes. Moreover, the students might also struggle with pronunciation or not have enough time to practice their English. Debating is one activity of problem-solving task (simulation) that encourages thinking skills and also offers motivating contexts for learners to communicate with one another. Debate can also enhance active learning where a speaking situation in which opposite points of view are presented and argued. This study aimed at answering two research questions, namely: (1) How is the undergraduate EFL students’ perception about debate in speaking class?; (2) How do the undergraduate EFL students believe that debate can help them to improve their speaking skill?. To answer those research questions, a mixed method research was used, by having a questionnaire and an interview guide as the instruments. Sixty three students of fifth semester of English Department as the subject in this study The first result of the study showed students had positive perception toward the use of debate in speaking class because of some benefits they acquired. They could practice the elements and components of speaking well and be more confident to deliver their ideas. The second result of the study showed that students’ perceived debate could help them to improve their speaking skill particularly the components of speaking (vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, fluency and comprehension). However, during the interview sessions, some grammatical errors could still be found.

Copyright

© 2020, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Download article (PDF)

TY  - CONF
AU  - Syamdianita
AU  - Amedea Cathriona Maharia
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/04/24
TI  - Developing Speaking Skill Through Debating: Undergraduate EFL Students’ Perception
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd Educational Sciences International Conference (ESIC 2019)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 22
EP  - 26
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200417.006
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.200417.006
ID  - 2020
ER  -