Advancing English Language Learners' Speaking Skills Using VoiceThread in Mobile Learning for Russian Tertiary Context

Maria Zemlyanova,Svetlana Masterskikh,Lyudmila Shilova,Natalia Muravyeva,Anna Shevtsova

doi:10.4018/ijwltt.286754

Maria Zemlyanova, Svetlana Masterskikh + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4018/ijwltt.286754

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Abstract

This research examines the effectiveness of using the VoiceThread (VT) application (both web and mobile-based) for the development of oral English skills of Russian university students. The study involved 44 full-time bachelor students in non-linguistic departments. The results were evaluated by on-line questionnaire using SurveyMonkey. The survey indicated that the majority of students agreed that mobile VoiceThread developed their oral language skills (M = 4.75) and they enjoyed using it for language learning (M = 4.13). The novelty of the research lies in a more integral assessment of the entire set of oral linguistic skills as a result of their development using a specific mobile learning platform widely used throughout the world. The results can be used in practice to implement mobile learning platforms for teaching oral language skills to students with basic knowledge of a foreign language.

Highlights

Due to increasing demands for university graduates to acquire effective communicative skills in the English language, the ability to speak coherently and intelligibly in a variety of contexts has become the main goal for English language learners
The survey indicated that the majority of students agreed that mobile VoiceThread developed their oral language skills (M = 4.75) and they enjoyed using it for language learning (M = 4.13)
As a result students reported that their recordings on mobile VoiceThread were more meaningful and well thought (M=3.98) (Q7), it means that their preparation for submitting a response on mobile VoiceThread was more intensive

Summary

Introduction

Due to increasing demands for university graduates to acquire effective communicative skills in the English language, the ability to speak coherently and intelligibly in a variety of contexts has become the main goal for English language learners. As numerous studies have shown, the majority of Russian students learning English as a core subject at non-linguistic universities experience more difficulties with speaking abilities than with other language skills, which is natural under modern educational conditions at Russian universities. Similar problems with the difficulty of mastering the oral skills of English as a second language are observed in many countries (Anwas et al, 2020). In Russia, most first-year students are unable to communicate in English and have lack of motivation. The second problem is the reduction of English language classes in the university

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