Developing EFL Student-Teachers’ Oral Communication Skills in Light of the Toastmasters Approach

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a program based on the Toastmasters Approach on developing EFL student teachers’ oral communication skills. The study adopted the pre-experimental one group pre-posttest design. Participants comprised a voluntary group (N = 9) from third year, English Department (basic education), Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University. The following instruments were used in the study: an open-ended needs analysis question, a list of oral communication skills, oral communication skills pre-posttest, a scoring rubric, and a satisfaction questionnaire. A training program based on the Toastmasters Approach with a student’s handbook and a trainer’s manual was developed. The program was taught to students in a three-week period (21 hours). Paired t-test was used to measure the effect of the training program on the students’ oral performance. Results revealed that the program was effective in developing students’ oral communication skills as there were statistically significant differences between the pre and post administrations of the test. Finally, a set of recommendations and suggestions for further research were proposed.