The Role of Extra Class Activities in Improving Students' English Language Skills -SPEAKING And Listening Skills in Focus (WITH Reference to Gilgel Beles College of Teachers’ Education
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Date
2008-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study was mainly aimed at examining the role of student activities outside the
regular class hours in improving learners’ English language skills (speaking and
listening skills in focus) in teacher Education Institutes (TEIs). In order to see the role of
extra class activities on the students’ English language skills improvement, an experiment
was carried out and speaking proficiency and listening comprehension tests were
designed and administered to the students in the study. Questionnaires were also
developed and employed as other tools among the experimental group students and
English language teachers in the college to investigate their attitudes. Furthermore, open
ended interview to the teachers and a focus group discussion with the experimental group
students were also used as supplementary data collecting tools. Together with these,
incidental observation was carried out for the experimental group to see how they were
doing with the activities during the experiment. The results from the post tests indicated
that the performance of the students in the experimental group was found to be
statistically significant in both the listening and speaking skills. The result from focused
group discussions and questionnaire showed that the students have positive attitudes
towards the extra class activities though there are no such activity programmes in the
college. On the other hand, the result from these tools revealed that the students do not
seem to be aware that extra class activities are learner led. Data from observation
showed that the students were interested in the activities and they were increasing their
participation from day one on wards. Teachers were found to have mixed attitudes and
awareness about the role of the activities on EFL skills improvement. Based on the
findings recommendations were made to the students, the teachers and to the institution.
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Keywords
speaking and Listening Skills