Enhancing EFL learners’ speaking and listening skills through authentic online conversations with video conferencing tools

Abstract

Research in second language acquisition has consistently provided empirical support for the role of conversational interaction in language development, but this finding is not easily embraced in the practice of language teaching and learning for various reasons such as lack of resources or favorable conditions. This paper presents an innovative practice where conversational interaction is fostered through an online talk project in which EFL learners from Vietnam have weekly conversations with volunteer English speakers from other countries via video-conferencing platforms. The project creates opportunities for EFL learners to participate in authentic conversations and enhance their English speaking and listening skills. Feedback from the participating students and volunteer communicators suggests that the project not only improves the EFL learners’ L2 speaking and listening skills but also motivates them and enhances their confidence in using English. We suggest that teachers from similar EFL contexts where learners often lack opportunities to meet and talk with English-speaking people from other cultures can adopt this practice to address the contextual deficiency and cultural gap in foreign language learning and teaching.