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.

This study explores the role of reconstructing reflection in fostering critical thinking and enhancing English language skills among English as a foreign language (EFL) pre-service teacher in Indonesia. It investigates students' self-perceptions, strategies for language development, and real-world applications of English learning. A descriptive qualitative approach, supported by quantitative data, involved 55 pre-service elementary school teachers from a private Indonesian university. Data were collected through weekly open-closed questionnaires via Google Forms over one semester, encouraging reflections on learning processes, challenges, and improvement strategies. Quantitative findings revealed that 87.3% of students felt confident applying English writing and speaking skills. A Pearson correlation (r = .52, p < .05) showed a moderate relationship between self-confidence and post-test scores, highlighting the value of aligning perceived and actual proficiency. However, 23.5% of “Capable” students scored below the mean of 77.13, indicating a need for targeted feedback and formative assessments. Reflective practices played a key role in developing critical thinking, helping students address challenges, refine strategies, and relate learning to real-life situations. Themes such as technology use, collaborative learning, and media exposure emerged as effective tools. Despite positive outcomes, students faced limited confidence and restricted opportunities for practice. This study emphasizes reconstructing reflection as a structured, transformative process for improving learning outcomes. Aligned with the 4R reflection model, it addresses gaps in current practices—often marked by superficial reflection—and offers actionable strategies for promoting critical thinking in EFL settings. The findings support integrating reflection, feedback, and immersive learning to enhance teaching and education.

The patriarchal structure in Turkish society along with teacher-centered instructional style cause Turkish learners to become passive and dependent learners. Teacher is accepted as an authority figure in the classroom, who should take most of the responsibilities and make most of the decisions about their learning in the classroom context. Also, teaching English is regarded as a subject to be taught, but not a language of communication. These characteristics of Turkish learning culture are considered as factors that hinder students in the continuum of independent or autonomous learning. This study aimed to figure out the learning realities of learners and the specific conditions affecting the development of learner autonomy into consideration to identify students’ readiness for autonomous study. The analysis of the learner autonomy questionnaire results indicated that participants had weak control over their own learning process indicating low level of autonomy. Moreover, they do not feel very competent in making decisions about their own learning in formal classroom environment.