Speaker
Description
Among the four language skills, speaking is often regarded as the most essential yet most anxiety-provoking. In Vietnam, many high school EFL learners experienced moderate to high levels of speaking anxiety, highlighting a critical need for innovative teaching methods to mitigate the issue. Although drama techniques have gained recognition for their effectiveness in reducing language anxiety in worldwide research, they remain understudied in Vietnamese EFL classrooms. This study aims to examine the impact of drama techniques on Vietnamese EFL High school students’ speaking anxiety and explore students' perceptions of their application. To serve this purpose, twenty-two Grade 10 and 11 students at a private school in Hanoi were invited to participate in a 10-week speaking course incorporating four types of drama techniques, namely drama and language games, mimes, role play, and simulation. Adopting a pre-experimental design, the study employed the Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Questionnaire adopted from Öztürk and Gürbüz (2014) and follow-up semi-structured interviews with 5 randomly chosen participants. The results show a significant reduction in students’ speaking anxiety, especially regarding communication apprehension and test-related stress. In addition, students reported enhanced personal confidence, improved speaking fluency and increased classroom engagement. However, some challenges emerged, including unengaging topics, lack of interaction and proactiveness among students. The findings provide practical implications for integrating drama techniques into EFL instruction at the high school level, contributing to more emotionally supportive and communicative learning environments.
Key words: Foreign language speaking anxiety, drama techniques/ drama-based activities, EFL, high school, Vietnamese context
Biography
Anh Tho Nguyen is a BA student in English Language Teaching at University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University. Her current research explores 'The Impact of Drama Techniques on Vietnamese EFL High School Learners’ Speaking Anxiety,' which is the focus of her presentation at this convention. Thơ's academic interests lie in innovative pedagogical approaches to language learning and fostering a more comfortable and engaging learning environment for students. Through this study, she aims to contribute practical insights for educators seeking to mitigate speaking anxiety in EFL contexts.
Mrs. Thu Hien Nguyen is a senior lecturer at the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi with over 20 years of experience in teaching English as a Foreign Language and English Language Teaching Methodologies. She has been actively involved in various English language teaching projects and has worked as a trainer in multiple in-service teacher training programs. She earned her Master’s and PhD in TESOL Studies in Australia.
