Title:
THE IMPACT OF FREE DISCUSSION ASSISTED WITH DVDS ON THE ELEVENTH GRADE EFL STUDENTS’ PROSODIC COMPETENCE

Authors:
Prof. Ahmad Bataineh and Bushra al-Braihi ,Jordan

Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the impact of using Free Discussion strategy assisted with DVDs on developing the eleventh grade EFL students ‘prosodic competence and motivation in Jordan. The participants of the study consisted of 40 11th grade students, studying at Al-Mkaiftah Secondary School for Girls, at the Northern Eastern Badia Directorate of Education, in the second semester of the scholastic year 2018\2019. This school was purposefully chosen for logistic purposes. There were two 11th grade groups; group A consisted of 20 students and it was chosen as a control group, and group B consisted of 20 students and it was assigned as an experimental group. The control group was taught speaking activities by the researcher regularly using the regular method adopted by prescribed textbook for 11th grade, whereas the experimental group was taught speaking activities by using Free Discussion Strategy assisted with DVDs decided by the researcher with the help of the supervisors and experts. Those speaking activities were taken from Internet, YouTube, websites and other supplementary materials on topics that cover the same speaking activities. Both groups sat to a pre-test to decide the actual level of both groups in prosodic competence and motivation. The data were collected within 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, both groups sat to a post-test to see if there was any change, if it occurred, to what extent, and in what dimension. By using proper statistical analysis, the results revealed that both groups developed their prosodic competence but the experimental group students developed their prosodic competence more than the control group. The results of the study also showed that the experimental group students developed in all prosodic aspects. Accordingly, using Free Discussion strategy assisted with DVDs is needed to develop students' prosodic competence and motivation since theory and practice are needed and they complete each other