Abstract:

Many students even at tertiary level are fearful or reluctant to speak in English. They often become literally speechless when they are placed to speak in public. One of the reasons is they lack the skill and confidence to do so and become apprehensive. Therefore, ESL students should be given the opportunities to participate in English-based activities that provide them a chance to practice speaking in the language, especially in authentic situations. The study looks at 22 UiTM Johor student facilitators’ perceptions on the impact of their involvement in the university-based community service which requires them to provide a cross-age tutoring service to a group of school students at a primary school situated in a rural area in Johor Malaysia for eight weeks. After the project ended, the students facilitators were given a set of questionnaires to answer regarding their perception of the project and how it affects their ESL speaking skill. The findings reveal that the students view the project as beneficial as it enables them to enhance their speaking skill as well as improve their attitude and confidence to speak in public.

Keywords:

ESL, Community Service, Speaking Skill, Learners' Attitude.