“EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU A MODEL?” : ENRICHING COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN ENGLISH USING SPEED DATING ACTIVITY

Speaking in a language not of an individual mother tongue needs a substantial amount confident and perseverance. High anxiety due to individual perception that other listeners are evaluating the way they speak, pronounce and perform deteriorates their wanting to speak in the target language. Due to this occurrence a substantial amount of students prefer not to speak English in public or classes for that matter. This paper presents the experience of an educator teaching English language to non native speakers of English in University Malaysia Pahang. A mixed gender in a classroom from various demographic and SES factors increase their hindrance to speak and communicate in English. By adapting and alter the fundamentals in speed dating, students experience new way of practising speaking among their colleagues. Survey shows students confidence level has raised and their willingness to speak has improved with the help of the activity. The study has given a new sight for teaching language especially in enhancement activity for speaking.