A Study on the Implementation of Students’ Classroom Oral Interaction in Sire Secondary School EFL Class

Grade 10 in Focus

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to study students’ classroom interaction in EFL speaking classroom in East Wollega zone, Sire Secondary School. To this effect, a descriptive method of research design was found to be the best fit for this study. The data were collected using random sampling technique from 182 students and availability sampling from 5 teachers of the school. To gather data three instruments were used, namely: Classroom observation, interview for teachers, and questionnaire for students. The data were collected and analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings of the study revealed that English language classroom oral interaction was not properly implemented in the stated grade level, and teachers and students did not perform the roles expected of them astoundingly. Furthermore, lack of students’ interest to orally interact, lack of English teacher’s commitment to create conducive atmosphere for their learners to freely interact, teachers’ not budgeting enough time for students’ interaction, large class size to moderately keep an eye on oral interaction and students’ insufficient in English language background at lower schooling are found to be the core setbacks for effective implementation of oral interaction. Hence, it was recommended that teachers should make their maximum effort by encouraging students whose English oral proficient becomes below the required grade level to interact in language classroom. EFL teachers should also be aware and implement that their friendly approach to their students  plays its own role in boosting up students’ interaction. Therefore, teachers ought to approach their students in providing professional support during classroom interaction. Furthermore, teachers should provide maximum opportunity to students to participate in oral interaction so that they could play the roles expected of them. Finally, the school community and other concerned body should also create favorable classroom environment to minimize the problems encountered and to maximize the implementation of students’ oral interaction in EFL classroom.