Investigating Methods of Training for Developing Students' Skills for Academic Oral Work: Focus on Social Science Students -- Addis Ababa University
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1998-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study investigated methods of training second year students in the College of Social
Sciences, Addis Ababa Uni versity, for academic oral work. The main objective of the
investigation was how to help the students activate their already existing linguistic resources so
that they could reduce their foreign language speech--related anxiety in order for them to build
the contidence to improve the level of their oral performance in academic contexts.
Teaching methods and techniques relevant to the development of oral competence were
extracted from the literature on current foreign/second teaching. These were used as the basis
for the design of new course materials for the study. The materials were taught to an
experimental group of students which was contrasted with a control group.
The effects of the new training on the students oral performance were examined through: (a)
the trainees' reactions to the training, (b) two simulated academic oral presentations by
experimental and control groups of students and (c) assessment of the confidence
demonstrated by the two study groups at the end of the training.
It was found that the training was positively evaluated by the trainees. The result of Oral
Presentation I (pre-training) showed the two study groups were performing at the same level
of oral intelligibility , while the resu lt of Oral Presentation 2 (post-training) indicated the
experimental group was, on the whole, better in its oral intelligibility than the control group.
The assessment of the confidence demonstrated by the study groups at the end of the training
revea led there were more confident students in the experimental group than in the control
group.
Thus, it was concluded that the new training positively contributed to academically relevant,
better oral performance by tbe trainees. This was not found to be true in the case of the
control group of students who were not exposed to the same training. Based on this conclusion
and other findings of the research, recommendations were made.
Description
Keywords
Investigating Methods of Training