The Significance of Exploiting Collaborative Activities to Motivate EFL Pupils to Regain Confidence in their Oral Performance The Case of Third-Year High School Students in Medjedel, M’sila

Abstract

This study raised the problem of the lack of confidence among secondary school pupils pertinent to their oral performance and its negative effects on learning and motivation. In a quest to find a suitable solution, the researcher of this study suggested collaborative activities as a motivational strategy to assist them regain confidence in their oral expression. To examine its effectiveness, the researcher used a quasi-experimental research design where he implemented a collaborative activity for 3rd year scientific class (group1) in two secondary schools for the academic year 2020/2021 after giving them a pre-experiment questionnaire that aims to investigate the existence of the research problem. Post-experiment questionnaires were handed to them after the activity to examine its usefulness. English teachers of both secondary schools were given also questionnaires to inspect their awareness of self-confidence importance in oral performance. The results of these questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively using Excel software; moreover, another tool was used to collect data which is classroom observation that aims to notice any changes in terms of pupils’ confidence in speaking during the activity. Thus, the researcher adopted a mixed method that helped him confirm the research hypothesis that the absence of confidence is among the obstacles weakening pupils’ oral performance and collaborative activities encouraged them. Findings showed that 100 % of teachers agree that collaborative activities do foster oral performance confidence and 77 % of pupils felt that their oral performance has been bettered. .