Abstract:

With the outbreak of COVID-19 throughout the world, education swiftly transferred to videoconferencing (VC) mode and attracted significant interest for research purposes. The following research study aims at investigating how speaking confidence is developed via online learning platform. The study also aims at scrutinizing the types of speaking activities that help to improve speaking fluency in online mode. To accomplish the mentioned aims, the study followed a mixed-method research approach and was implemented in the frames of a special speaking course held via Zoom VC platform at the American University of Armenia Open Education Program. The researcher observed the lessons, analyzed the course syllabus and conducted a semi-structured interview with the teacher in order to gain an insight into how speaking skills are developed online. In order to identify progress in students’ speaking fluency, the researcher used JASP statistical software to measure the difference in students’ speaking test performance before and after the course. The research findings suggest that speaking confidence and fluency can be facilitated with the help of temporary scaffolding, multiple modes of VC communication features (e.g. breakout rooms) as well as task-based activities which are student-centered, communicative and meticulously staged.

Keywords:

Remote learning, videoconferencing, speaking skills, fluency, speaking confidence.