Using Task Based Learning to Develop EFL Speaking Skills of the Humanistic Studies' Students of Al-Azhar University

Abstract

The current study aimed at developing the speaking skills of the Humanistic studies Students through a program based on task-based learning. Sixty one students from the first year humanistic studies college, department of foreign languages and Simultaneous Interpretation, Al-Azhar Univesity, Tfahna branch were drawn randomly to represent the study participants during the second term of the academic year 2017-2018. The researcher employed the quasi-experimental design. The experimental group consisted of 31 students and the control group contained 30 students. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, the researcher designed speaking skills questionnaire to determine the most important speaking skills needed for the 1st year Humanistic studies students and validated it by a list of jury members. A speaking skills test and a rubric to score the test were designed and validated by the jury members. Then a program of ten sessions grounded on six units from "Let's talk 2" was designed and applied to the experimental group whereas the control group received their regular instruction. The speaking skills test was pre- and post-administered to both the experimental and the control groups. Results indicated that there is a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the experimental group and those of the control group in their speaking skills in favor of the experimental group. Findings from the current study provided evidence for the effectiveness of the program in developing the speaking skills of the Humanistic studies students and were consistent with the researcher's hypotheses. Finally, some recommendations and suggestions for further research were provided.