The Impact of Using ICTs on EFL Learners’ Speaking Skill The Case of Second-Year Foreign Languages students in the Secondary Schools of Tebessa

Abstract

Speaking is an important part of everyday interaction and the skill that students will be judged upon most in real-life situations. Accordingly, teachers have to use some helpful strategies such as integrating ICTs in their classrooms to prepare their students as much as possible to be able to speak in English fluently and comprehensively. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of using ICTs on EFL students’ speaking skill. The sample study consisted of 275 second-year foreign languages students and 40 teachers of English at the secondary schools of Tebessa during the academic year 2020/2021. To achieve the study aims, the descriptive-analytical method of research was adopted using two questionnaires administered to both students and teachers. The collected data from these questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The study findings indicated that the students used free discussions and interviews most to learn the speaking skill in general. They revealed, however, that the use of ICTs especially videos enhances the students’ motivation and interest to develop their speaking skill. Moreover, they pointed out that the lack of teacher training and technological tools are the main difficulties faced when using ICTs in class. The difficulties highlighted by the students and teachers are followed by a number of practical suggestions for a better use of ICTs to develop students’ speaking skill. Therefore, translating these suggestions into an action plan will result in providing a more effective ICT integration in EFL contexts.