Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of digital portfolios to enhance EFL (English as a Foreign Language) speaking skills in English-major under-graduate students at Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja, in southern Ecuador. The participants were 42 students at the A2 level, according to the CEFR (Com-mon European Framework of Reference for Languages). All of them were en-rolled in an English Language Integrated Skills course. A mixed-method ap-proach was used to collect and analyze data in this study. Pre and post-questionnaires, observation sheets, and speaking rubrics were applied as instru-ments. Students used their smartphones to create digital portfolios in Google Drive, which included videos and audios about certain topics considered in the course syllabus. The speaking activities consisted of recording information in dif-ferent locations of the university campus (cafeteria, laboratories, library, chapel, sports ground), and other places of the city. The students worked individually, in pairs or groups to carry out different speaking activities during an academic term of 5 months. Personalized feedback was provided by analyzing the students’ oral performance through the speech artifacts uploaded in each portfolio. The findings show that digital portfolios were effective to enhance students’ pronunciation and fluency. It was also confirmed that the implementation of digital portfolios through Google Drive can increase students’ motivation to practice oral skills in the target language.
Highlights
In the field of EFL teaching and learning, speaking has been considered as the most essential among the four language skills since it determines learners’ ability to use the target language efficiently [1] and [2]; certainly, as [3] states, speaking involves the active use of language to express meaning
The findings revealed that e-portfolio is effective to develop students’ speaking skills as it is with their writing skills
Observation checklists were used to obtain further information about aspects related to EFL speaking, motivation, use of the storage tool, use of smartphones, and feedback
Summary
In the field of EFL teaching and learning, speaking has been considered as the most essential among the four language skills since it determines learners’ ability to use the target language efficiently [1] and [2]; certainly, as [3] states, speaking involves the active use of language to express meaning This skill has been regarded as the most challenging to master for the majority of learners [4]. Among the different technological tools that can be used to design digital portfolios in EFL education (Google Drive, Voice Thread, Evernote, Weebly, etc.), Google Drive is one of the most powerful ones This web-based application allows learners to share files and handle them in their courses. Implementing mobile-based learning in EFL teaching and learning can enhance instructors’ creativity in materials design, and it can increase students’ motivation to learn language skills [10]
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