“On Air”: Participation in an Online Radio Show to Foster Speaking Confidence. A Cooperative Learning-Based Strategies Study

Abstract

The daily observation of class sessions has enabled me to recognize that students possess a feeling of self-distrust in oral activities. For this reason, I designed a study carried out with a group of twelve eighth graders. This article illustrates an action research project conducted to enhance students' confidence when speaking on an online radio show. The data were collected by using surveys applied to students, audio and video recordings and a teacher's journal. The data analysis procedures included a blend of inductive analysis, grounded theory and trend analysis. Results indicated that the research process prompted students' speaking confidence through the use of technology. The study was also an opportunity to improve the teacher's performance, and become a facilitator by steering a pedagogical intervention that allowed students to make decisions to overcome their lack of speaking confidence.

Keywords

• Confidence
• cooperative learning
• participation
• radio
• speaking