The Effectiveness of Neuro-Linguistic Programming Techniques in Reducing Students’ EFL Oral Disfluencies

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques (NLP) in reducing EFL oral disfluencies among second-level students in the Department of English, Faculty of Education-Tooralbaha, University of Lahej. A sample of 40 students from the second level of the second semester in the academic year 2021-2022 was selected with a focus on ensuring homogeneity based on their previous grade sheet of speaking skills. The sample was then divided into two groups: an experimental group consisting of 20 students and a control group of the other 20 students. To achieve the study’s objectives, a pre-test was conducted to measure the oral disfluencies of both the experimental and control groups. Following that, a training program based on NLP techniques was administered to the experimental group over sixteen training sessions during eight weeks. Subsequently, a post-test was conducted to measure the oral disfluencies of both groups to collect the data needed. After conducting appropriate statistical analysis, the findings emphasized the effectiveness of the NLP techniques in reducing instances of students’ oral disfluencies such as pauses and repetitions. These findings emphasize the value of integrating NLP techniques into language teaching and learning providing a practical means to address speech difficulties and cultivate greater fluency and confidence among EFL students. Based on these findings, the researcher has formulated a series of recommendations to leverage NLP in various educational domains.