Assessment Of Techniques Used By Efl Teachers To Encourage Students To Speak In English Classes: The Case Of Kersa Secondary School Grade Ten Students.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore techniques EFL teachers used to encourage grade ten students to speak in English classes at Kersa Secondary School found in Oromiya Regional State, Arsi Zone, Munesa District. The research questions asked were: how was the speaking lessons carried out; what techniques were employed and how effective were the techniques used and what problems prevented the uses of effective techniques to encourage students’ to speak in English classes. In view of this, the study employed descriptive research design having mixed research method to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Respondents of the study were five EFL teachers and 127 students who were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques respectively. Data were collected through questionnaires, classroom observation and interviews to elicit ideas, opinions and comments from respondent teachers and students. Data from the questionnaire and classroom observations were analyzed quantitatively using frequency and percentages followed by descriptive explanation, while the data from the semi-structured interview was analyzed qualitatively based on emerging themes. The findings revealed that teachers’ classroom practice seemed to be ineffective since most of them couldn’t apply techniques needed to encourage students while they presented the lessons and while they provided activities so that students could practice to speak in English during the lesson. Reason teachers gave for not using techniques to encourage students to speak in English classes were shortage of time to employ variety of techniques and to cover the course in due time. Besides, students’ lack of interest to speak in English and their poor English language background were to blame. Hence, it was recommended that teachers should play a decisive role to maintain favorable oral language learning conditions by employing verities of teaching techniques and activities to encourage students speak in English. In addition, the school and the family should play their role to facilitate the teaching and learning process in general and oral language learning in particular.