The role of picture-based speaking activities in first-year Turkish language teaching students’ willingness to communicate in English

Abstract

Considering the significant role of willingness to communicate (WTC) in the development of speaking skills in foreign language learning, this study investigates the role of picture-based speaking activities in students’ WTC in English. The sample consisted of 30 first-year students enrolled in the Turkish Language Teaching Program at a Turkish state university. These students attended two hours of compulsory English classes per week, as they were not exempted from the course based on the placement test administered at the beginning of the semester. The course lasted 14 weeks, during which students participated in picture-based speaking activities once every two weeks, with activities corresponding to each unit. This quasi-experimental study employed a questionnaire administered as a pretest and posttest to collect data. Data were analysed using SPSS 20, employing descriptive and inferential statistics, including paired-samples and independent-samples t-tests. The results indicated a statistically significant increase in students’ WTC scores following the implementation of the picture-based speaking activities. Descriptive comparisons also indicated some variation across subgroups. Specifically, male participants had higher posttest WTC scores than female participants, while students aged 20 and above obtained higher scores than younger participants. However, the absence of a control group and the relatively small sample size should be considered when interpreting the findings, as these factors may limit their generalisability. The findings are discussed in terms of theoretical implications, implications for classroom practice, and recommendations for future research.

Keywords

• Picture-Based Speaking Activities
• WTC
• Willingness to Communicate
• English

Project Number

1

Ethical Statement

This study involved collecting data from human participants through a questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee of Trabzon University (Approval No: E-81614018-050.04-2400021757; Date: May 7, 2024). Informed consent was obtained electronically from all participants prior to their participation. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent amendments.

Resim temelli konuşma etkinliklerinin Türkçe öğretmenliği birinci sınıf öğrencilerinin İngilizce iletişim kurma istekleri üzerindeki rolü

Abstract

Yabancı dil öğreniminde iletişim kurma isteğinin konuşma becerisinin geliştirilmesindeki önemli rolü göz önünde bulundurularak gerçekleştirilen bu çalışma, resim temelli konuşma etkinliklerinin öğrencilerin İngilizcede iletişim kurma isteğindeki rolünü incelemektedir. Araştırmanın örneklemini, Türkiye’deki bir devlet üniversitesinin Türkçe Öğretmenliği Programında öğrenim gören ve dönem başında uygulanan muafiyet sınavı sonucunda İngilizce dersinden muaf olmayarak haftada iki saat zorunlu İngilizce dersi alan 30 birinci sınıf öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. On dört hafta süren ders kapsamında öğrenciler, iki haftada bir, ilgili üniteye yönelik resim temelli konuşma etkinliklerine katılmıştır. Yarı deneysel desende yürütülen çalışmada veriler, ön test ve son test olarak uygulanan bir anket aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde SPSS 20 programından yararlanılmış; betimsel ve çıkarımsal istatistikler kapsamında bağımlı örneklemler için t-testi ve bağımsız örneklemler için t-testi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular, resim temelli konuşma etkinliklerinin uygulanmasının ardından öğrencilerin iletişim kurma isteğine ilişkin ortalama puanlarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir artış olduğunu göstermiştir. Ayrıca, betimsel karşılaştırmalar alt gruplar arasında bazı farklılıklar bulunduğuna işaret etmiştir. Buna göre, son testte erkek katılımcıların iletişim kurma isteği puanları kadın katılımcıların puanlarından daha yüksek bulunurken, 20 yaş ve üzerindeki öğrenciler de daha genç katılımcılara kıyasla daha yüksek puanlar elde etmiştir. Bununla birlikte, çalışmanın bir kontrol grubu olmaksızın yürütülmüş olması ve görece küçük bir örnekleme dayanması, elde edilen bulguların genellenebilirliğini sınırlayabilecek temel unsurlar olarak değerlendirilmelidir. Çalışmanın sonuçları, kuramsal çıkarımlar, sınıf içi uygulamalara yönelik öneriler ve gelecekteki araştırmalara ilişkin öneriler doğrultusunda tartışılmıştır.

Keywords

• Resim Temelli Konuşma Etkinlikleri
• İletişim Kurma İsteği
• İngilizce

Project Number

1

Ethical Statement

Bu araştırma, insan katılımcılardan anket yoluyla veri toplamayı içermektedir. Çalışma, Trabzon Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Beşerî Bilimler Etik Kurulu tarafından onaylanmıştır (Etik Kurul Onay Numarası: E-81614018-050.04-2400021757 / Tarih: 07.05.2024 ). Tüm katılımcılardan çevrim içi onam alınmıştır. Araştırma süreci, 1964 Helsinki Bildirgesi ilkelerine uygun şekilde yürütülmüştür.

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