Speak More, Students! Harnessing Technology for Active Students' Engagement in EFL English-Speaking Classes

Abstract views: 295 , PDF downloads: 307
Keywords: Teachers, Engagement, Technology, EFL teaching, Teaching

Abstract

One of the factors that causes EFL speaking challenges is students’ lack of engagement in their English-speaking classes. In that situation, technology might have the potential to help EFL teachers engage their students to speak more enthusiastically. This study explores technology tools used by teachers in EFL speaking, how they use the technology to teach EFL speaking to different levels of students, and to what extent the use of technology by the teachers can engage their students when learning EFL speaking. To achieve those research objectives, the researchers approached the study qualitatively by conducting a semi-structured interview with three EFL teachers from a non-formal school in Salatiga, Central Java, related to the purposes of the study. Through a rigorous peer debriefing process between the researchers, the data analysis results indicated that the participants used simple and common technology tools (e.g., PowerPoint, an online website, Google Docs, and Zoom) to teach EFL speaking. Notably, the technology tools could support the participants in engaging their students in the class by providing authentic and interesting materials that are completed with pictures and related to the students' lives. Questions for future research explorations are presented.

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Author Biographies

Natalia Christy Emy Lokollo, Master in English Language Education, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga 50711

NATALIA CHRISTY EMY LOKOLLO obtained her master’s degree in English Language Education from Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana in Salatiga, Indonesia. She is currently working as a principal at Destiny Institute School in Salatiga, Indonesia, where she also teaches English for junior and secondary students.

Yustinus Calvin Gai Mali, Master in English Language Education, Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Salatiga 50711

YUSTINUS CALVIN GAI MALI is a researcher and lecturer in the Master in English Language Education in the Faculty of Language and Arts at Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana in Salatiga, Indonesia. A recipient of the Fulbright-DIKTI (Indonesia) scholarship, Calvin earned his PhD in Language, Literacy, and Technology Education from Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. His recent publications include mapping current trends of EFL teaching and learning research practices in Indonesia (International Journal of Education, 2023), simple technology to support research (Sanata Dharma University Press, 2022), an associate professor and a doctoral student learn from each other: critical friendship (Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 2022), the exploration of university students’ perceptions of using technology in academic writing classrooms (LLT Journal, 2022), technology integration in an Indonesian EFL writing classroom (TEFLIN Journal, 2021). His research work is accessible at https://satyawacanachristianu.academia.edu/YustinusCalvin.

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Published
2024-05-20
How to Cite
Lokollo, N. C. E., & Mali, Y. C. G. (2024). Speak More, Students! Harnessing Technology for Active Students’ Engagement in EFL English-Speaking Classes. OKARA: Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra, 18(1), 36-53. https://doi.org/10.19105/ojbs.v18i1.12653