The paper titled "Improving Speaking and Presentation Skills through Interactive Multimedia Environment for Non-Native Speakers of English" by Dawood Ahmed Mahdi primarily focuses on exploring the impact of an interactive multimedia environment on the speaking and presentation skills of non-native English speakers. The study seeks to investigate whether the use of multimedia tools in classroom settings enhances the verbal presentation performance of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students.
The purpose of the study is to determine the correlation between students' interaction with multimedia devices and their speaking competency. Specifically, it aims to assess how multimedia resources influence the improvement of students' pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, fluency, and accuracy in spoken English. The research was conducted within the context of the English Undergraduate Program at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia.
The methodology employed in this study is a mixed-method approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. A sample of 40 Arabic-speaking students was divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received 12 hours of multimedia-based instruction, while the control group was taught using traditional methods. The students’ performance was evaluated using pre- and post-tests, video-recorded presentations, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires.
The key findings of the study indicate that the experimental group, which was exposed to the interactive multimedia environment, showed significant improvement in their speaking skills compared to the control group. The results highlighted enhanced pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, fluency, and accuracy in the experimental group. The study also found that the use of multimedia tools positively influenced students' engagement, interaction, and motivation to learn.
The study concludes that the integration of multimedia tools in language teaching significantly improves the speaking skills of non-native English speakers. The findings suggest that multimedia environments provide a more effective alternative to traditional teaching methods, particularly in enhancing EFL students' language competencies. The study recommends expanding the use of multimedia-based programs in educational settings to further develop students' speaking abilities.