Effects of media-based instruction in English for junior tour guides on speaking ability of students at Kampong Chheuteal High School, Kingdom of Cambodia

Abstract

To (1) investigate the effects of media-based instruction in English for junior tour guides on students’ speaking ability; and (2) explore students’ opinions towards the use of media in the English for junior tour guides. The samples were 20 Grade 11 students who studied at Kampong Chheuteal High School, Kingdom of Cambodia. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks. The data were collected quantitatively and qualitatively. A paired sample t-test was used to investigate the differences between the mean scores from the pre and post English speaking tests. The content analysis was used to report the qualitative data. The results of the study revealed that students’ posttest mean scores from the English speaking test were higher than their pre-test mean scores at a significant level (p<.05).They reflected towards the use of media in the English for junior tour guides in three main aspects; namely, (a) speaking ability, (b) local community knowledge, and (c) media-based classroom instruction. It was concluded that media could improve their speaking ability in several features such as content, pronunciation, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, as well as grammar. Students viewed that media could increase their local community knowledge in terms of their local cultures and wisdom. Additionally, media assisted teachers and students to engage in both teacher–students and students-students classroom interaction.