Improving Speaking Fluency through 4/3/2 Technique and Self-Assessment Facilitated by Video Recording

Abstract

This action research aimed to improve students' English-speaking fluency in a school in Los Ríos Province using an adaptation of the 4/3/2 technique and self-assessment of recording videos. A sample of 24 ninth-graders, ranging from 11 to 13 years old, were separated aleatory into a control and an experimental group. Among the participants in the experimental group, 66.7% were female, and 33% were male. In the control group, 50% were female, and 50% were male. The data were obtained through tests, surveys, and interviews. After the implementation, the experimental group showed a significant difference between the pretest (M= 7.83, SD= 1.26) and the posttest (M= 11.00, SD= 1.12) with a p = 0.00 with a large impact for learning, Cohen’s d=2,65. The results obtained from the pre and post-test revealed that participants improved the speed in speaking English, decreased the number of filled/silent pauses, the number of repetitions, and the number of corrections. Results from the survey and the interview demonstrated that students' perspectives changed in the end. Students had positive opinions on the pedagogical innovation. This research is addressed to the EFL teachers who want to improve their students speaking fluency