English for Specific Purposes
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Drama and Questioning Techniques: Powerful Tools for the Enhancement of Students’ Speaking Abilities and Positive Attitudes towards EFL Learning

Ratchadaporn Janudom

Punchalee Wasanasomsithi

English as an International Program, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

ajchat2004@yahoo.com & punchalee.w@chula.ac.th

Abstract: With the aim of satisfying students’ need for improved English speaking skills in order to handle the growing challenges of international communication in a globalized world, the study was conducted to examine the benefits of drama and questioning techniques to enhance verbal communicative skills. The attitudes of students towards English instruction employing such techniques were also investigated. The experiment was conducted with an intact group of 15 non-native undergraduate students whose major was not English. To collect data, the speaking achievement pre- and post-tests were administered. The investigation of students’ attitudes towards the instruction using drama and questioning techniques was conducted by employing a triangulation of data collection instruments consisting of teacher’s diaries, students’ journals, and attitude questionnaires.

Research findings revealed that there was statistically significant difference between the mean scores students obtained from the pre- and post-tests. The data obtained from students’ journals and attitude questionnaires manifested students’ positive attitudes towards English instruction delivered through drama and questioning techniques, although the same could not be said with the data obtained through the teacher’s diaries.  Based on such findings, it could be concluded that drama and questioning techniques could help enhance students’ speaking abilities and their positive attitudes towards EFL learning.  

Keywords: attitudes/ drama techniques/ questioning techniques/ speaking achievement