VietTESOL International Convention 2026

This study explored the role of school-based English extracurricular activities in encouraging speaking participation among primary EFL students in a primary school in central Vietnam. The activities included English Olympics, “Talented in English” contests, English broadcasting programs, and other English-related events organized by the school. The study involved 80 fifth-grader over an eight-week period and adopted a school-based research approach. Data were collected through observations of extracurricular activities, field notes, teacher reflection journals, and informal interviews with students and teachers. The findings revealed that these activities created more opportunities for students to use English in enjoyable and meaningful contexts. Many students became more confident when speaking English and were more willing to participate in public speaking and group interaction activities. The activities also appeared to increase students’ motivation and interest in learning English. However, several challenges related to preparation time, students’ varying English proficiency levels, and organization of activities were also identified. The study suggests that school-based extracurricular activities can support speaking participation among young EFL learners and provide valuable experiences beyond regular classroom instruction.