Speakers
Description
In Vietnamese academic settings, the majority of students often struggle to involve themselves in oral activities in English classes. Penny Ur (2024) highlights several reasons for this, including shyness, difficulty in finding things to say, low participation rates, and a tendency to use their first language (L1). In real classroom scenarios, it is evident that learners’ reluctance to communicate English stems from their fear of being judged about their mispronunciations, repetition or nonfluency by high-proficient students.
This workshop aims to enhance students’ confidence in speaking English by utilizing the website “Book creator” which offers a platform for both individuals and peer groups to craft their own stories and incorporate their authentic voices to narrate these stories in English. Students can comment or correct their peers’ mistakes anonymously, so less-advanced learners will be more willing to expose themselves to speaking English more frequently. Another notable feature of this website is its capability for students to video themselves directly, allowing them to share their own stories in English as if they were in the classroom setting. Wonderful as this website is, it cannot overshadow the role of teacher in terms of giving prompt pronunciation correction through voice or texting features for students or tailoring project-based speaking activities. In conclusion, the combination of “Book Creator” and teachers will create a dynamic and interactive learning environment that promotes speaking confidence and proficiency among their students.
