Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary ESL learners

This study investigates teachers' opinions regarding the effectiveness of debates as an instructional tool for lower secondary English as a second language (ESL) students. This research uses a qualitative methodology to collect data from eight ESL teachers in a variety of schools in order to be...

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Main Author: Christianne Abilekha, Chandra Sekaran
Format: Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.utar.edu.my/6530/
http://eprints.utar.edu.my/6530/1/1906145_Christianne_Abilekha_Full_FYP.pdf
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author Christianne Abilekha, Chandra Sekaran
author_facet Christianne Abilekha, Chandra Sekaran
author_sort Christianne Abilekha, Chandra Sekaran
building UTAR Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study investigates teachers' opinions regarding the effectiveness of debates as an instructional tool for lower secondary English as a second language (ESL) students. This research uses a qualitative methodology to collect data from eight ESL teachers in a variety of schools in order to better understand their perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of including debates in the curriculum. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. The results indicate that debates foster critical thinking, engaged participation, and increased confidence in students; nevertheless, teachers have also identified challenges such disparities in language proficiency and problems with classroom organization. The study concludes with ways for incorporating debates into ESL teaching approaches at the lower secondary level by offering suggestions for best practices and solutions to these problems based on what was shared by the interviewed teachers.
first_indexed 2025-11-15T19:42:43Z
format Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis
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institution Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-15T19:42:43Z
publishDate 2024
recordtype eprints
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spelling utar-65302024-08-07T02:39:09Z Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary ESL learners Christianne Abilekha, Chandra Sekaran L Education (General) PE English This study investigates teachers' opinions regarding the effectiveness of debates as an instructional tool for lower secondary English as a second language (ESL) students. This research uses a qualitative methodology to collect data from eight ESL teachers in a variety of schools in order to better understand their perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of including debates in the curriculum. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. The results indicate that debates foster critical thinking, engaged participation, and increased confidence in students; nevertheless, teachers have also identified challenges such disparities in language proficiency and problems with classroom organization. The study concludes with ways for incorporating debates into ESL teaching approaches at the lower secondary level by offering suggestions for best practices and solutions to these problems based on what was shared by the interviewed teachers. 2024-01 Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis NonPeerReviewed application/pdf http://eprints.utar.edu.my/6530/1/1906145_Christianne_Abilekha_Full_FYP.pdf Christianne Abilekha, Chandra Sekaran (2024) Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary ESL learners. Final Year Project, UTAR. http://eprints.utar.edu.my/6530/
spellingShingle L Education (General)
PE English
Christianne Abilekha, Chandra Sekaran
Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary ESL learners
title Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary ESL learners
title_full Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary ESL learners
title_fullStr Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary ESL learners
title_full_unstemmed Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary ESL learners
title_short Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary ESL learners
title_sort exploring teachers’ perspectives on the use of debates to enhance the speaking skills of lower secondary esl learners
topic L Education (General)
PE English
url http://eprints.utar.edu.my/6530/
http://eprints.utar.edu.my/6530/1/1906145_Christianne_Abilekha_Full_FYP.pdf