Using Simulation Activities in English Speaking Practice for Secondary School Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discover whether using simulation activities for 10th graders at a gifted high school in Vietnam and implementing such tasks in English speaking practice is beneficial to the students. A series of additional simulation activities were designed on the basis of the English 10 Textbook used in that school. A group of 30 students took part in an 8-week intervention in which they were required to complete 2 speaking activities each week and take a survey questionnaire before and after the treatment. In addition, the questionnaire was sent to the students to gain some insights about their opinions towards the materials. The findings of the post survey indicated that the students' speaking skills had improved significantly after they used the simulation activities. According to the results of the questionnaires, the materials provided were adequate and suited for 10th graders who want to improve their speaking skills. This study also revealed that these supplemental materials appeal to 10th graders' interests in improving their speaking performances. As a result, it is proposed that more frequent utilization of simulation activities should be provided in speaking instruction to improve the speaking performance of 10th graders.