EFFECTS OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGY INSTRUCTION ON ENGLISH SPEAKING ABILITY AND CONFIDENCE OF EFL UNDERGRADUATES

Abstract

This study was conducted to fulfill three objectives: (1) to investigate the effects of the Communication Strategy Instruction (CSI) on speaking ability, (2) to examine the effects of the CSI on speaking confidence, and (3) to explore the attitudes of EFL undergraduates towards the CSI. The study was conducted with a sample group of 34 undergraduates majoring in Business Administration enrolling in the Experiential English I in the first semester of the academic year 2013 at Chulalongkorn University. Data were collected using the English Speaking Test and English Speaking Confidence Scale before and after the instruction. The mean scores of the pre-assessment and the post-assessment were compared using paired-samples t-test and Cohen’s d to measure the effects and the magnitudes of the effects caused by the instruction. Data were also collected using the Attitude Questionnaire after the instruction to explore EFL undergraduates’ attitudes of towards the instruction, and analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and content analysis. The findings regarding speaking ability revealed a statistically significant difference at 0.05 level, with a large effect size (d = -0.95). However, no statistical significance was found when it came to confidence. Finally, the findings exhibited the students’ positive attitudes towards the instruction. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the developed instruction should be implemented as one of the effective means to enhance EFL undergraduates’ speaking ability and confidence.