Investigating the Effects of Schemata Activation Methods on Developing EFL Students’ Speaking Performance

Abstract

This research was composed to shed light on the concept of schema theory at Chadli Ben Djedid University. It reveals the teachers’ perception of schema and explores the incorporation of its methods in oral classes. It also investigates EFL students’ schemata activation and to allow them to employ their prior knowledge and make use of it to the fullest by establishing schema theory at ChadliBendjedid University. This study investigated whether implementing the schema methods improved EFL students’ speaking performance or not. Thus, this research opted for a questionnaire for teachers and a questionnaire for students to discover their perception of schema in speaking. The research data for both questionnaires were quantitatively analyzed, and the findings demonstrated that both students and teachers admit the importance of schemata methods in boosting the students’ speaking performance, the students’ speaking performance strongly improved which was apparent in the high agreement of the participants on the use of oral stories and pictures as a teaching method. The implementation of the schema method proved that it is a strong technique to improve EFL students’ speaking performance. This research provided useful recommendations and pedagogical suggestions in order to cover the way for a successful schema activation technique at ChadliBendjedid University. And make the oral classes more dynamic and active and make use of the previous and cultural knowledge that form effective and better speakers. With regard to ChadliBendjedid EFL teachers and students’ perception and attitude towards Schemata activation, further research may be conducted to explore their perceptions towards the schema theory.