Applying a Learner-Focused Web-Based Approach to Enhance EFL Learners’ Oral Skills and Self-Efficacy

Subject Areas : All areas of language and translation

Neda Ghabeli ¹ , Massoud Tajaddini ² , Neda Fatehi Rad ³

1 - Department of English Language, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, kerman, Iran
2 - Department of English Language, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
3 - Department of English Language, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran

Received: 2020-10-02 Accepted : 2022-10-17 Published : 2022-10-01

Keywords: Self-efficacy, Technology, Learner-Focused Approach, Web-Based Language Learning,

Abstract :

The present work adopted a multiphase design to investigate the effect of using web-based collaborative and strategy-based approaches on EFL learners' oral skills. Moreover, a more comprehensive objective was to check if the use of collaboration and strategy instruction could enhance EFL students' self-efficacy. The participants of the study consisted of 85 intermediate EFL learners who were studying at a language school in Kerman. To collect the data, four instruments were used: Cambridge Placement Test to homogenize the participants, pre- and post-listening and speaking tests, a questionnaire to estimate EFL learners’ self-efficacy, and an interview. The results suggested that most of the students preferred cooperative learning strategy-based instruction. The findings indicated that the effective use of web-based collaboration in speaking and listening classes that could have a remarkable effect on the linguistic input of the learners. The sample also proposed that the appreciation of the program was a given sign of the positive effect of both web-based instruction and collaboration in the web environment. Above all, the results of the speaking and listening tests revealed that the participants improved satisfactorily.

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