Using Group Discussion to Promote English Speaking and Writing Abilities and to Reduce English Classroom Anxiety of Learners

Abstract

     The research study entitled using group discussion to promote english speaking and writing abilities and to reduce english classroom anxiety of learners was aimed at 1) comparing the learners' english-speaking abilities before and after classroom with group discussion  2) comparing the learners' english-writing abilities before and after classroom with group discussion and 3) comparing the learners' english classroom anxieties before and after classroom with group discussion. The tools used in this research included a lesson plan used in the group discussion, english speaking ability test form with difficulty of 0.43, discrimination power of 0.27, reliability of 0.88, english writing ability test form with difficulty of 0.47, discrimination power of 0.33, reliability of 0.83, and english classroom anxiety test form with reliability of 0.85. The samples from purposive sampling included 27 people. Data was analyzed by using statistics including percentage, mean, standard deviation and dependent sample t-test.

     The research results were as follows: 1) the learners’ english speaking ability was found that before classroom with group discussion, the learners were at a fair level of 33% (average 11.1 points), and after classroom, the learners were in very good level of 92.6% (average 16.9 points), with t value at -14.060  2) the learners’ english writing ability was found that before classroom with group discussion, the learners were at a poor level of 100% (average 8.3 points), and after classroom, the learners were at a moderate level of 59.3% (average 14.6 points), with t value at -19.441 and  3) anxiety of the learners before classroom with group discussions was found at a high level of 11.1% (average 27.3 points), and after classroom, the learners were at a high level of 3.7% (average 21.8 points). The english classroom anxiety was reduced by 5.5 points, with t value at 3.151.

     The research findings were as following: 1. According to the speaking abilities of the learners, it was found that before learning by using Group Discussion, most of learners were at fair level with the number of 9, percentage of 33 having average score as 11.1 and after the learning by using Group Discussion, most of learners were at high level with the number of 25 and the percentage of 92.6 having average score as 16.9. The speaking abilities score was increased 5.8 and there was statistical significance as 0.05 (P < 0.001). 2. Regarding to the writing abilities of the learners, it was found the before learning by using Group Discussion, 27 learners were at poor level with percentage of 100 and average score as 8.3 and after learning by using Group Discussion, most of learners were at moderate level with the number of 16, the percentage of 59.3 and average score as 14.6. The writing abilities score was increased 6.3 with statistical significance as 0.05 (P < 0.001). 3. Referring to English classroom anxiety of the learners, it was found that before learning by using Group Discussion, 3 learners were at high level with the percentage of 11.1 and average score as 27.3 and after learning by using group discussion, 1 learner was at high level with the percentage of 3.7 and average score as 21.8. The English classroom anxiety was decreased 5.5 with statistical significance as 0.05 (P =0.004).