Pair-Work to Develop Fluency in Speaking

Abstract

This article reports the development of fluency in speaking through pair-work activities, role-play, and questions board game. The action research took two weeks, three hours and a half per day, with twelve students in a public university. The methodology included a pre-test and post-test that measured quantitative aspects of students’ oral speech (fluency, discourse management, interaction, and expression). The result showed a 0.98 effect size, which means that pair-work activities boosted students’ fluency significantly. Regarding the p value, it showed a 0.00 result, asserting that pair-work developed fluency as expected. To measure qualitative aspects, students answered a learning log with open questions that collected learners’ perspectives regarding their pair-work work participation, and speaking fluency. The final learning log application evidenced students’ development in areas like their English knowledge and confidence when interacting. Observations recorded in field notes were used to measure how students overcame difficulties during the pair-work activities, and there were positive changes. However, features of their personality like nervousness and anxiety did not disappear. This paper asserts that pair-work activities developed fluency in speaking and can be useful for future researchers.