The Effectiveness of Using Debates in Developing Speaking Skills among English Majors at ...

114 Pages·2015·1.44 MB·English

by  أبو محمد

Al-Azhar University – Gaza
Deanship of Postgraduate Studies
Faculty of Education
Department of Curricula and Teaching Methods

The Effectiveness of Using Debates in Developing
Speaking Skills among English Majors at University of
Palestine

submitted by:

Sarah Ramadan Mahmoud Sabbah

Supervised by
Dr. Sumer Salman Abou Shaaban
Assistant Professor of Curricula & Teaching Methods
Al- Azhar University – Gaza

Thesis Submitted to the Department of Curricula & Teaching Methods in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Master of Education

2015
Dedication

I would like to dedicate my work to
The greatest woman on earth, my mother, who keeps praying for me.
My father.
My husband , who has always been supporting and encouraging me,
My lovely kids Mohammed and Dina who endured a lot to let me continue,
My brothers and sisters for their support.

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Acknowledgments
First and for most, my thanks go to Allah, the Almighty, for granting me the
energy and power to continue my efforts to complete this study.
I would like to acknowledge my sincere thanks and gratitude to my supervisor
Dr. Sumer Abou Shaaban for her devoted efforts, and whose valuable advice
helped me to finish this study.
My appreciation is paid to the referee committee who helped me in modifying
the instruments of my study and thanks to University of Palestine with all its
members.
Thanks to the examiner committee, Dr Abdullah Kurraz and Dr. Mohammad
Hamdan who kindly accepted to examine my study.
Special thanks to Prof. AbdelKAreem Nijim for his support.
On the personal level, I feel strongly indebted to my Husband who
encouraged me a Lot.
To whoever taught me a word or support me.

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The Effectiveness of Using Debates in Developing
Speaking Skills among English Majors at University of
Palestine

Thesis submitted by:
Sarah Ramadan Mahmoud Sabbah

Supervised by
Dr. Sumer Salman Abou Shaaban
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using debates in developing speaking
skills among English majors at University of Palestine. To achieve the aim of the study, the
researcher adopted the quasi-experimental approach. The sample of the study consisted of
(20) English major students (one group) from University of Palestine in Gaza. [The
researcher used real life situations to measure the students' ability to speak.] The test
consisted of two questions for 10 minutes and was used as pre -and post- test.
The researcher referred to specialists to ensure the validity of the test and used Pearson
Correlation Coefficient to measure its validity. The reliability of the test was measured by
Cronbach's Alpha.
The results of the pre and post speaking skills tests were statistically analyzed using
Wilcoxon Test.
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The findings indicated that there are statistically significant differences between the pre and
post tests due to Pronunciation, Grammar, and Vocabulary skills after the use of debates as
strategy for teaching speaking skills.
This study recommended teaching English speaking through debates. The researcher
recommended the adaptation of using debates regarding other English teaching skills such
as reading, writing and listening.

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يف ةيزيلجنلإا ةغللا ةبلط يدل ثدحتلا ةراهم ةيمنت يف ترا ظانملا مادختسا ةيلعاف
نيطسلف ةعماج

حابص ناضمر ةراس /ةثحابلا دادعإ
ّ
نابعش وبأ ناملس رمس .د /فراشإ
ةسرادلا صخلم
ةغللا ةبلط ىدل ثدحتلا ةراهم ةيمنت يف ترا ظانملا مادختسا ةيلعاف ىلع فرعتلا ىلإ ةسرا دلا تفده
ثيح ،يبيرجتلا هبش جهنملا ةثحابلا تفظو ،ةسرا دلا ضورف نم ققحتللو .نيطسلف ةعماج يف ةيزيلجنلإا
.نيطسلف ةعماج يف ةيزيلجنلإا ةغللا صصخت )ةدحاو ةعومجم( ةبلاطو ًابلاط 20 ةسرا دلا تلمش
10 ةدمل نيلاؤس نم رابتخلاا نوكت دقو ،ةيظفللا ةبلطلا ةردق رابتخلا ةيتايح فقاوم ةثحابلا تراتخا
.ثدحتلا ىلع ةبلطلا ةردق سايقل يدعبو يلبق رابتخاك هذيفنت متو قئاقد
ةطساوب رابتخلاا قدص سايق متو ةيزيلجنلإا ةغللا سير دت لاجم يف نيصصختم ىلإ ةثحابلا تأجل دقو
.خابنورك افلا لماعم مادختساب تابثلا لماعم باسح متو ،نوسريب طابترا لماعم
. نوسكليو لماعم ةطساوب يدعبلاو يلبقلا رابتخلاا جئاتن ليلحت متو
ًايئاصحإ ةلاد قو رف دوجو ب ةبلطلا ترا ابتخا جئاتن ىلع تيرجأ يتلا يئاصحلإا ليلحتلا جئاتن ترهظأ دقو
.ظفللاو دعاوقلاو تادرفملا يف ةصاخ ثدحتلا ةراهم يف يدعبلاو يلبقلا رابتخلاا نيب
تحرتقا امك ،ةيزيلجنلإا ةغللا سيردت يف ترا ظانملا مادختساب مامتهلاا نم ديزملا ءلايإب ةسرا دلا تصوأو
ةباتكلاو ةءرا قلا لثم ةيزيلجنلإا ةغللا يف ىر خأ ترا اهم سيردت يف ترا ظانملا بو لسأ فيظوت ةثحابلا
.عامتسلااو
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Table of Contents
No. Title Page
Dedication i
Acknowledgment ii
Abstract iii
Arabic Abstract v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables ix
List of Abbreviations x
Chapter 1
Background of the Study
1.1 Introduction 2
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 Questions of the Study 4
1.4 Hypothesis of the Study 4
1.5 Purpose of the Study 4
1.6 Significance of the Study 5
1.7 Definition of Terms 5
1.8 Limitations of the Study 6
1.9 Summary 6
Chapter 2
Theoretical Framework
Part 1 "Speaking Skills"
Introduction 8
2.1 Definition of Speaking Skills 8
2.2 Functions of Speaking 9
2.3 Elements of Speaking 11
2.4 The Notion of Teaching Speaking 12
2.5 Goals of Teaching Speaking 13
2.6 Principles of Teaching Speaking 14
2.7 Factors Affecting Students Speaking Ability 15
2.8 Communicative Language Teaching 16
2.8.1 Characteristics of Communicative Language Teaching 17
2.8.2 Characteristics of communicative activities 17
2.9 Stages of Speaking Activities 19
2.9.1 Pre-Activity Stage 19
2.9.2 During-Activity Stage 20
2.9.3 Conclusion Stage 21
2.10 Characteristics of Successful Speaking Activities 21
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2.11 Assessment of Speaking Skill 22
Part 2 "Debate"
2.1 Definition of Debate Strategy 25
2.2 Formats of Debate 26
2.2.1 Simplified Debate Format 26
2.2.2 Simplified Debate Methodology in Practice 27
2.2.3 Assessing Simplified Debate 27
2.3 Types of Debate Activities 27
2.4 Steps of Debate Strategy in Developing Speaking Skills 29
2.5 Procedures of Debate 30
2.6 Advantages & Objectives of Debate 31
2.7 Summary 32
Chapter 3
Previous Studies
Introduction 34
3.1 Studies Related to Teaching and Developing Speaking Skills 34
3.1.1 Commentary 41
3.2 Studies Related to using Debates in Developing Speaking 41
3.2.1 Commentary 46
3.3 General Commentary on Previous Studies 46
Summary 47
Chapter 4
Research Design and Methodology
Introduction 49
4.1 Research Design 49
4.2 Population of the Study 49
4.3 Sample of the Study 49
4.4 Variables of the Study 50
4.5 Instruments 50
4.5.1 Oral Speaking Skills Test 50
4.5.2 Teacher's Guide 58
4.6 Delimitations of the Study 60
4.7 Statistical Analysis 60
4.8 Procedures of Data Collection 61
Summary 62
Chapter 5
Results, Discussion and Recommendations
Introduction 64
5.1 Test of the First Hypothesis 64
vii
5.2 Test of the Second Hypothesis 65
5.3 Test of the Third Hypothesis 67
5.4 Discussion 69
5.5 Recommendations 71
5.5.1 Recommendations to Curriculum Designers and Decision 71
Makers
5.5.2 Recommendations to Teachers 71
5.5.3 Recommendations to Students 72
5.5.4 Recommendations for Further Studies 72
References 74
Appendices
1 Speaking Skills pre & post Test 81
2 Teacher's Guide 84
3 Referee Committee 101
4 Documentation Photos 102

viii
List of Tables

No. Title Page
4.1 Distribution of the Sample 50
4.2 Correlation coefficient of each paragraph of " Vocabulary " and 54
the total of this domain
4.3 Correlation coefficient of each paragraph of " Grammar " and 55
the total of this domain
4.4 Correlation coefficient of each paragraph of " Pronunciation " 55
and the total of this domain
4.5 Correlation coefficient of each domain and the whole of 56
questionnaire
4.6 Cronbach's Alpha for each Domain of the testand the entire 57
questionnaire
4.7 Correlation Coefficient and Spearman-Brown Correlation 57
Coefficient for each Domain of the questionnaire and the entire
questionnaire
5.1 The result of Paired Samples – Wilcoxon Test for Grammar skill 64
for 20 respondents pre and post test.
5.2 Result of Paired Samples – Wilcoxon Test for Grammar skill 65
5.3 The result of Paired Samples – Wilcoxon Test for Vocabulary 66
skill for 20 respondents pre and post test.
5.4 Result of Paired Samples – Wilcoxon Test for Vocabulary skill 66

5.5 Result of Paired Samples – Wilcoxon Test for Pronunciation 68
skill for 20 respondents pre and post test.
5.6 Result of Paired Samples – Wilcoxon Test for Pronunciation 68
skill for
20 respondents

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