Peer Assessment of Audio Recordings to Improve Oral Skills using WhatsApp

Abstract

Nowadays, the English language is considered the lengua franca for communication worldwide. Rao (2019) mentioned that English had been a helpful communication means in different fields such as technology, science, arts, business, and education, among thousands of speakers. Nevertheless, the learning of this language has not gotten the same results in all the countries. According to Education First (2021), some countries in Latin America have the lowest level of English. In the case of Ecuador, findings demonstrated that the proficiency in the last year placed it in position # 90 of 112 countries. This is why it is necessary to improve English learning in the current learners. In 2013, English teaching in Ecuador was optional. However, the knowledge level in students needed to improve. In an agreement, the Ministry of Education established a new Curricular Reform to include some periods of classes in primary and secondary education (Ministerio de Educación, 2014). In March 2014, the periods of English classes were regulated as mandatory. Five periods for secondary level and two for primary school, beginning at the second grade (Ministerio de Educación, 2016). The Ministry of Education prepared this plan to improve English as a foreign language (EFL) in every single skill (writing, listening, reading, and speaking) with the goal to increase English competencies in learners. Most of the students believe their proficiency in English could be affected by the lack of improvement in their speaking skills. Hossain (2015) stated that many learners consider speaking the most complicated skill since it needs training and effort to communicate the language effectively. Students have many reasons for not developing speaking skills. Al-Eiadeh et al. (2016) expressed that some causes that prevent their speaking learning are confusion, embarrassment, difficulties in pronunciation, limited vocabulary, fossilization, lack of confidence, and anxiety For these reasons, it is necessary to engage students in the learning process and connect the educative contexts with the current and innovative changes that learners are experimenting based on collaboration and peer-assessment to help each other to do a better job.