Effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners
ESL learners often experience anxiety and feel uncomfortable when speaking in the target language. This paper examines the anxiety level of polytechnic students when speaking English and the effects of board game on their speaking performance. The participants were selected from two intact classes w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Australian International Academic Centre
2016
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54078/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54078/1/Effects%20of%20board%20game%20on%20speaking%20ability%20of%20low-proficiency%20ESL%20learners.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848852448513359872 |
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| author | Yong, Mei Fung Yeo, Li Min |
| author_facet | Yong, Mei Fung Yeo, Li Min |
| author_sort | Yong, Mei Fung |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | ESL learners often experience anxiety and feel uncomfortable when speaking in the target language. This paper examines the anxiety level of polytechnic students when speaking English and the effects of board game on their speaking performance. The participants were selected from two intact classes which were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups comprising 30 students each. Data were obtained from pre- and post-treatment speaking tests and questionnaire. The questionnaire measuring anxiety factors was adapted from Yaikhong and Usaha (2012) and Woodrow (2006). The board game “What Say You” employed during the treatment was a speaking activity which required players to speak on a topic within a given time frame. The experimental group played the board games over six sessions. The results from the experimental and control groups showed significant difference in the pre- and post-treatment speaking test scores. However, the speaking performance of the experimental group revealed significantly higher scores. Students who were initially hesitant and passive were more willing to speak and were able to present and justify their ideas more confidently as compared to the control group after the treatment. The findings reveal that the board game is a useful tool to engage learners’ participation in class and to enhance the speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T10:38:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-54078 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T10:38:14Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Australian International Academic Centre |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-540782018-02-27T08:23:39Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54078/ Effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners Yong, Mei Fung Yeo, Li Min ESL learners often experience anxiety and feel uncomfortable when speaking in the target language. This paper examines the anxiety level of polytechnic students when speaking English and the effects of board game on their speaking performance. The participants were selected from two intact classes which were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups comprising 30 students each. Data were obtained from pre- and post-treatment speaking tests and questionnaire. The questionnaire measuring anxiety factors was adapted from Yaikhong and Usaha (2012) and Woodrow (2006). The board game “What Say You” employed during the treatment was a speaking activity which required players to speak on a topic within a given time frame. The experimental group played the board games over six sessions. The results from the experimental and control groups showed significant difference in the pre- and post-treatment speaking test scores. However, the speaking performance of the experimental group revealed significantly higher scores. Students who were initially hesitant and passive were more willing to speak and were able to present and justify their ideas more confidently as compared to the control group after the treatment. The findings reveal that the board game is a useful tool to engage learners’ participation in class and to enhance the speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners. Australian International Academic Centre 2016-05 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54078/1/Effects%20of%20board%20game%20on%20speaking%20ability%20of%20low-proficiency%20ESL%20learners.pdf Yong, Mei Fung and Yeo, Li Min (2016) Effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners. International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 5 (3). pp. 261-271. ISSN 2200-3592; ESSN: 2200-3452 http://www.journals.aiac.org.au/index.php/IJALEL/article/view/2289 Anxiety level; Board game; Speaking ability; Low-proficiency students; ESL learners 10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.5n.3p.261 |
| spellingShingle | Anxiety level; Board game; Speaking ability; Low-proficiency students; ESL learners Yong, Mei Fung Yeo, Li Min Effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners |
| title | Effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners |
| title_full | Effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners |
| title_fullStr | Effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners |
| title_short | Effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency ESL learners |
| title_sort | effects of board game on speaking ability of low-proficiency esl learners |
| topic | Anxiety level; Board game; Speaking ability; Low-proficiency students; ESL learners |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54078/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54078/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54078/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54078/1/Effects%20of%20board%20game%20on%20speaking%20ability%20of%20low-proficiency%20ESL%20learners.pdf |