Using Skype to Improve the Speaking Ability of Junior High School Students N99C0003 向倍儀 Ellie

Content Chapter 1 Introduction 1-1 Background and Motivation Background and Motivation 1-2 Research purposeResearch purpose 1-3 Research QuestionResearch Question Chapter 2 Literature Review 2-1 What is Skype?What is Skype? 2-2 Advantages and Limitation of using SkypeAdvantages and Limitation of using Skype Chapter 3 Methodology 3-1 Research Design 3-5 Data CollectionResearch Design Data Collection 3-2 Participants 3-6 Data AnalysisParticipantsData Analysis 3-3 Instrument 3-7 Reliability and ValidityInstrumentReliability and Validity 3-4 Procedure 3-8 Potential LimitationsProcedure Potential Limitations

Chapter 1 Introduction Background and Motivation Students are bored by rote-learning. Repeated grammar practices and meaningless drills are mostly used in the classroom. Computer Mediated Communication can increase students’ motivation. Speaking ability is mostly used in daily life, while Taiwanese students are seldom to talk or discussion in English in class.

Research purpose the purpose of this research will try to investigate if using Skype as the medium to communicate can improve learners’ English speaking abilities.

Research Questions:  Do students improve their speaking ability by learning through Skype?

Chapter 2 Literature Review What is Skype? real-time interaction between people over the Internet. Can be text-based SCMC and voice-based SCMC The most popular Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software Free software One-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many discussion.

Advantages and limitation of using Skype  the quality of voice is good  it’s easy to manipulate and there’s no need for expensive equipment  the sound and text could be recorded  time and place are flexible  meet foreigners to practice their second language  Lower anxiety Technical limitation- bandwidth, network capacity, technical equipment

Research design Quantitative research: pre-test +post-test Qualitative research: analyze the record Group Pre-test Speaking test of GEPT Elementary level Treatment (Discussion through Skype) Post-test Speaking test of GEPT Elementary level Experimental Group VVV Control GroupVXV

Participants School:  located in Heng-Chun town, Ping-Tung County  36 classes, 55 teachers, 1050 students  students’ parents averagely have lower social status and learners are lack of social and cultural stimulus. Teacher:  a certificated English teacher  bachelor degree of English Education  about ten years of teaching experience  Both groups have the same teacher

Students: GroupNumberNative languageGrade Learning Experience Experimental Group 32 Mandarin Chinese 85 year Control Group32 Mandarin Chinese 85 year

Instruments GEPT elementary level speaking test  reading aloud simple passages  giving simple self-introduction  simple dialogue such as greeting, shopping, or asking for direction

Procedure  It will last 12 weeks, once a week  45 minutes per session (35 mins discussion, 10mins feedback)  there will be a pre-test on the first week, and a post-test on the final week for both group  EG-language laboratory; CG-classroom  32 students are divided into 8 groups  Rearrange the groups for every two weeks

 The discussion topics will be task-based ex. “how do they arrange a special graduation ceremony and what kinds of activities they will design”  record all the discussion of each group  Provide word bank and related sentence patterns  Teacher participate in the discussion when it’s necessary.

Data Collection  GEPT Elementary Level Speaking Test of the pre-test and post-test  Group discussion recording

Data Analysis  Using T-test to analyze those data of pre-test and post-test  Using the GEPT grading certification to analyze those recording data

Reliability and Validity  GEPT examinations with differences are the standardized assessments which can distinguish learners’ various English proficiency.  more than 300 junior high schools or high schools, and hundreds of universities, and government agencies in Taiwan recognize GEPT scores as the entrance, graduation, or promoting qualification..

Potential Limitations limited teaching hours The number of participants is small Technical problem Subjective

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