How Final-Year English Majors View Oral Presentations as a Practical Speaking Technique: A Case Study at a University in Southern Vietnam
Oral presentations are a great tool for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students, especially at a university in southern Vietnam. This study resul.
Abstract:
Oral presentations are a great tool for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students, especially at a university in southern Vietnam. This study results from comparing the benefits and drawbacks of oral presentations from the vantage point of fifty final-year English majors. Ten participants had structured interviews using a mixed-methods approach combining data collection with a 27-item questionnaire. Results reveal that oral presentations significantly increase vocabulary learning (M = 4.42), grammatical understanding (M = 4.22), and creativity (M = 4.46) in preparation. Over presentations, students note higher confidence (M = 4.06), coherence (M = 4.06), and public speaking abilities (M = 4.32). Comments following presentations help to build critical thinking (M = 4.14) and quick reaction skills (M = 4.24). Still, there are problems with low vocabulary (M = 3.74), speaking anxiety (M = 4.00), and fluency concerns (M = 3.82). Notwithstanding these obstacles, oral presentations clearly improve speaking abilities and encourage student autonomy. Hence, their advantages exceed their disadvantages. Future training seminars should focus on psychological and language barriers to maximize the possible application of the method.
Keywords: EFL students, oral presentation, speaking ability.
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