Abstract:

Language is acquired through social interaction, and the use of language in settings of daily life. Foreign language classrooms are the key for daily life setting in which language acquisition occurs. Speaking is a crucial part of foreign language learning and teaching especially after the Licence, Master, Doctorat (LMD) reforms. Despite its importance, for many years, teaching speaking has been undervalued and English language teachers have continued to teach speaking just as memorization of dialogues or a repetition of drills. However, today’s world requires that the goal of teaching speaking should improve students’ communicative skills as a way to help students express themselves and learn how to follow the social and cultural rules appropriate in each communicative circumstance. Part of the 21st century demands, Information Communication Technology (ICT), imposes itself as a viable tool for enhancing the teaching of English Foreign Language (EFL) speaking proficiency. Thus, the present study aims to explore the effects of ICT on improving EFL communicative skills. The current project is an evaluative case study in which the value of the teachers’ contribution to the teaching of speaking as a skill for 1st year EFL LMD students at Batna University is assessed and critically analyzed. The data were systematically collated using a range of qualitative elicitation methods and the results obtained were interpreted and explored in depth. New strategies and techniques for teaching speaking are suggested. On the basis of the study’s findings, the hypothesis stating that ICT can transform the teaching of speaking and meet the requirements of the current century demands is confirmed. Although this study has its limitations, the results proved interesting in their implications.

Keywords:

ICT, Teaching speaking, LMD, EFL learning.