The Role of ICT in Enhancing EFL Students’ Speaking Skill:

Abstract

Language teaching and learning is considered to be a complex process. To make such complexity easier, well-advanced teaching aids are required to be present in every class. The recent development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) led to a massive technological revolution in all fields, and teaching and learning are no exception. This research work aims at highlighting the role of ICTs in improving learners’ oral proficiency. It focuses on integrating different types of these tools to enhance speaking skill, and create an enjoyable atmosphere as an attempt to make students use the target language effectively. The main hypotheses adopted in this work are that ICTs are a great motivator, and help students by creating a comfortable environment that provides them with extensive language use and oral performances. To confirm these hypotheses, three research instruments: classroom observation, teachers’ interview, and both teachers’ and students’ questionnaires; were administered to EFL teachers and their students who attend private schools. The practical outcomes of the study offer an analysis of the collected data from the questionnaires, interviews and observation, and a discussion of the main results. Consequently, the findings of this study show that students and teachers both support the use of technology in the classroom as a practical and multipurpose tool for teaching and learning. On that account, the integration of ICT is considered to be the best technique for enhancing students’ speaking ability.