Developing Tasks to Foster Thai Students’ Willingness to Present in English
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1206.18Keywords:
willingness to present, speaking tasks, flipped learning, L2 speakingAbstract
It is evident that there are many factors that influence degrees of willingness to present among second language (L2) learners. Within the current context, less proficient students have shown clear signs of reluctance to deliver presentations in English language classrooms. Based on the researchers’ assumption and previous existing literature, there are two variables (i.e., topics for presentation and preparation time for presentation) central to the phenomenon situated. This article describes a pilot study which investigated to what extent a speaking task designed on the basis of two key factors (i.e., speaking topics relevant to students’ background knowledge and extended preparation time) produces a positive impact on Thai students’ degrees of willingness to present in English. Under study, 15 undergraduates in a Thai university were encouraged to deliver a presentation about a secret tourist attraction in their city. Flipped learning was also adapted and utilized as an approach that offered students more preparation time to deliver their presentations. Findings gained from students’ written reflections and a willingness to present scale demonstrated that students’ degrees of willingness to present were positively influenced by the task design. Pedagogical implications are also provided in this study.
References
Bergmann, J., & Sams, A. (2012). Flip your classroom: Reach every student in every class every day. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.
Chen Hsieh, J. S., Wu, W. C. V., & Marek, M. W. (2016). Using the flipped classroom to enhance EFL learning. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 30(1), 1-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2015.1111910
Hendra, L. A., Ibbotson, M., & O’Dell, K. (2019). Evolve: Student’s book. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hung, H. T. (2017). Design-based research: Redesign of an English language course using a flipped classroom approach. TESOL Quarterly, 51(1), 180-192. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.328
Kanoksilapatham, B., & Suranakkharin, T. (2019). Tour guide simulation: A task-based learning activity to enhance young Thai learners’ English. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 16(2), 1-31.
Lai, C., & Gu, M. (2011). Self-regulated out-of-class language learning with technology. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 24(4), 317-335. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2011.568417
Lam, D. M. K. (2019). Interactional competence with and without extended planning time in a group oral assessment. Language Assessment Quarterly, 16(1), 1-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2019.1602627
Lee, J. S. (2019). EFL students’ views of willingness to communicate in the extramural digital context. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 32(7), 692-712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2018.1535509
McCroskey, J. (1992). Reliability and validity of the willingness to communicate scale. Communication Quarterly, 40(1), 16-25. DOI: 10.1080/01463379209369817
Pattapong, K. (2013). Willingness to communicate in a second language: A qualitative study of issues affecting Thai EFL learners from students' and teachers' points of view. Published doctoral thesis. University of Sydney, Australia.
Riasati, M. J. (2018). Willingness to speak English among foreign language learners: A causal model. Cogent Education, 5(1), 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2018.1455332
Riasati, M. J., & Rahimi, F. (2018) Situational and individual factors engendering willingness to speak English in foreign language classrooms. Cogent Education, 5(1). DOI: 10.1080/2331186X.2018.1513313
Shen, X., & Byfield, L. (2019) Promoting English learners’ willingness to communicate in content-area classrooms, the clearing house. A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 91(6), 250-257. DOI: 10.1080/00098655.2018.1541856
Suranakkharin, T. (2017). Using the flipped model to foster Thai learners’ second language collocation knowledge. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 23(3), 1-20. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/3L-2017-2303-01
Syed, H., & Kuzborska, I. (2019). Understanding the nature of variations in postgraduate learners’ willingness to communicate in English. Cogent Education, 6, 1-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2019.1606487
University of Washington. (n.d.). Flipping the classroom. Retrieved January 7, 2022, from https://teaching.washington.edu/topics/engaging-students-in-learning/flipping-the-classroom/
Wang, J., An, N., & Wright, C. (2018). Enhancing beginner learners’ oral proficiency in a flipped Chinese foreign language classroom. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 31, 490-521. DOI: 10.1080/09588221.2017.1417872