No abstract

Understanding students’ perspectives and differentiating classroom practices based on student needs are considered effective educators’ primary purposes in improving the foreign language learning process. How teachers conduct and teach their classes significantly affects how students cope with their learning. For this reason, this phenomenological study aimed to identify the perspectives among 12 Ecuadorian ninth graders on the 4/3/2 technique and self-assessment used to improve their English-speaking fluency during a five-week class. The data were collected through interviews and visual narratives and analyzed using grounded theory. The results of the study show that the 4/3/2 technique presented three categories (I learned because I repeated; I increased my speaking speed and decreased word repetitions; I got nervous when I had to speak faster). Self-assessment presented two categories (I learned from my mistakes; We were aware of our progress, which motivated us). Thus, this study has shown the importance of identifying students’ perspectives on the two learning strategies used in class. By doing this, teachers can select the appropriate technique for that specific learning context based on the students’ perceptions and foreign language theories. Further research is still necessary for the Ecuadorian context to explore how students’ perspective on the teachers’ learning methodologies affect them, especially their emotions.

Um dos aspectos importantes no ensino e aprendizagem de línguas é a aprendizagem da habilidade oral (NOELS et al, 2003; SILVA, 2005, RUTH 2013), que é uma das mais almejadas para os aprendizes de Língua Estrangeira (BERGSLEITHNER, 2009). As dificuldades de aprendizagem dessa habilidade podem estar ligadas a diversos fatores, sendo um dos mais importantes, e infelizmente menos pesquisados, a timidez dos aprendizes. É quase inexistente a literatura sobre alunos tímidos na Linguística Aplicada no Brasil (com exceção de Candido Ribeiro (2008)). Este trabalho relata resultados de uma pesquisa inicial que teve como objetivo geral investigar a timidez dos alunos de nível intermediário de um curso de extensão em língua inglesa em relação à produção oral, tendo por base estudos sobre timidez (ZIMBARDO, 1977; AXIA, 2003, CANDIDO-RIBEIRO, 2008) e produção oral (UR, 1996). Os resultados sugerem que a timidez afeta a produção oral dos alunos por diversos fatores, sendo um dos mais importantes, a emoção do medo.

No abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to examine if and to what extent the adaptation of the 4/3/2 technique and self-assessment contributes to the improvement of students’ speaking fluency. 24 ninth graders ranging from 11 to 13 years old were separated randomly into control and experimental groups, each having 12 participants. The data were obtained by means of two tests (pre and post) and examined using a speaking fluency rubric. The calculation of rubric variables was done using the software Praat and Jwatcher and analyzed using the SPSS. After the implementation of the two techniques, fluency increased in both groups. However, the experimental group showed a significant difference compared to the control group. The use of the 4/3/2 evidenced the importance of planning, practicing, and repeating; and the self-assessment revealed the importance of feedback. Both techniques indicated to students that they could be autonomous in their learning, and they can search for different ways to reach their goals, making them the primary agent of their learning. The implications for teaching/learning and the limitations found during the study are discussed. Some recommendations for future research are presented. This research is addressed to EFL teachers who want to help students improve their spoken fluency.