EFL Learners’ Perception of Using Self-Study to Develop Speaking Skill

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the students’ preferences of self-study or teachers’ involvement. It also aimed to explore what students perceive as necessary skills for self-study. This study was needed because some learners depend on teachers to develop their speaking, which may delay their learning process, reduces their sense of responsibility and demotivate them. Many learners lack motivation, awareness, and responsibility when it comes to developing their speaking skill. Therefore, this research attempted to explore if students employed their self-study to improve their speaking skills or they preferred teachers’ involvement. The participants of this study were 33 female students from the preparatory year at Yanbu University Collage. This study was a quantitative method research where the researcher used a questionnaire to collect the data. The result showed that the students preferred both self-study and being guided by teachers, they were positive about self-study and they value the concept of it even when they did not have experience in it. Furthermore, the participants were asked about their techniques and skills they usually do to develop their speaking and the responses were mostly recommending talk to people in the target language and practice listening.