Good oral communication skills are necessary to help people understand and process information clearly. Pre-service teachers must be able to exemplify strong verbal ability to become globally competent amidst the education sector’s fight to thrive amidst the COVID-19 crisis. With the aid of a “more nurturing” method that goes beyond physical presence, aspiring teachers could make a difference in their future students’ learning experience. This study investigated the effects of the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach on the oral communication skills of Teacher Education students in a local college in Laguna, Philippines. A group of 11 student participants underwent a virtual intervention workshop series that followed the 4D cycle model of AI. The intervention was conducted via the Zoom Meetings app during the College’s adaptation of a modular distance learning scheme in response to the pandemic. Results revealed a significant impact in the students’ motivation to improve their oral communication skills. The sessions had a positive effect on their eagerness to proceed with specializing in English language education. Feedback from the post-intervention interview also suggested that the AI approach is a viable method for virtual classroom settings to build a safe learning space for students who engage in English, as the sessions give out a sense of fulfillment, positive reinforcement, and self-paced success. It is recommended that teachers employ AI techniques in their outcomes-based teaching-learning plans to sustain their students’ motivation in pursuing Teacher Education and to support the students’ varying needs and preferences based on the strengths they already possess.

Authors:
Patricia Mariz Valencia, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines
Ruth Ortega-Dela Cruz, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Patricia Mariz Valencia is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at University of the Philippines Los Baños in Philippines

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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