The role of learner - learner interaction in speaking ability of Iranian EFL learners

It is generally accepted that classroom interaction can contribute to students’ languagedevelopment and communicative competence by providing target language practiceopportunities. Thus, the idea that interaction should be implemented in the classroom becamemore and more popular especially in second or foreign language classroom. The present studyaims to investigate the effect of learner-learner interaction on speaking ability of the students. Tothis end, forty students who were learning English at a language institute in Yazd were selectedto participate in the study. They were assigned to one control group and one experimental group.Students in experimental group had learner-learner interaction in the classroom. Pretest, posttest,and some interviews were conducted during experimental phase of the study. In fact, the data ofthe current study was collected during 8 sessions of treatment. Descriptive statistics was appliedfor data analysis. The results of the study demonstrate that learner-learner interaction hassignificant effect on speaking ability of the learners and the average of accuracy and fluency ofexperimental group was higher than ones of control group. The present study also has somepedagogical implications for both learners and teachers.

کلیدواژه ها:

Learner-learner interaction ، speaking ability ، EFL learners