Polish pre- and upper-intermediate learners’ opinions on the significance of linguistic and non-linguistic determinants of speech in developing their EFL speaking skill: A quantitative study

Since “spontaneous verbal expression is not solely a product of knowledge and skill in using a language code” (Rivers 1968: 192), many scholars have emphasised the interdisciplinarity of the ability to speak. Having stressed the multifaceted character of speaking in the light of the selected linguistic and non-linguistic determinants of speech, we aim to explore Polish learners’ opinions on what components underlying a speech production process influence their ability to speak English. The quantitative study that we conducted among the group of 66 Polish EFL secondary school and university students revealed that out of 12 linguistic and non-linguistic determinants of speech, the knowledge of FL vocabulary and culture were respectively judged to be the most and least relevant. Even though some statistical differences in pre- and upper-intermediate students’ choices were keenly anticipated, between-group comparisons of A2 and B2 level subjects’ answers did not render any statistically significant similarities or differences.klaudia.e.gajewska@gmail.comKlaudia Gajewska is a PhD candidate at The Maria Curie-Skłodowska University and an English teacher in a secondary school in Lublin, Poland. Her research interests centre around Second Language Acquisition and Foreign Language Teaching with a special emphasis placed on examining the relationship between the productive skill of speaking and its subskill, pronunciation.Maria Curie-Skłodowska UniversityBailey, K. 2003. Speaking. In: D. Nunan (ed.), Practical English Language Teaching, 47-66. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies.Bogdanowska-Jakubowska, E. 2013. Student paper presentation – an analysis of face-related issues. In: D. Gabryś-Barker & J. Bielska (eds.), The Affective Dimension in Second Language Acquisition, 101-106. Bristol/NY/Ontario: Multilingual Matters.Boonkit, K. 2010. Enhancing the development of speaking skills for non-native speakers of English. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 2: 1305-1309.Bot, K. de. 1992. A bilingual production model: Levelt’s ‘Speaking’ model adapted. Applied Linguistics 13: 1-24.Brown, D.H. 2000. Teaching by Principles. An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. New York: Longman.Brown, T. & Bown, J. 2014. Teaching Advanced Skills through Global Debate: Theory and Practice. Washington: Georgetown University Press.Brown, G. & Yule, G. 1983. Teaching the Spoken Language. Cambridge/New York/Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.Bygate, M. 1987. Speaking. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Bygate, M. 2009. Teaching and testing speaking. In: M.H. Long & C.J. Doughty (eds.), The Handbook of Language Teaching, 412-440. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.Byrne, D. 1976. Teaching Oral English. Harlow: Longman Group Limited.Canale, M. & Swain, M. 1980. Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics 1: 1-47.Chastain, K. 1971. Developing Second-Language Skills. USA: The Center for Curriculum Development.Dakowska, M. 2005. Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.Daszkiewicz, M., Wenzel, R. & Kusiak-Pisowacka, M. 2018. Educational Role of Language Skills. Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego.Erdonmez, C. 2014. Teaching speaking in EFL class. In: B. Inan-Karagul & Y. Dogan (eds.), Teaching Language Skills, 39-63. Hauppage/New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.Gass, S. & Selinker, L. 2001. Second Language Acquisition. An Introductory Course. Mahwah/NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.Gilakjani, A.P. 2011. A study on the situation of pronunciation instruction in ESL/EFL classrooms. Journal of Studies in Education 1: 1-15.Goh, C. 2007. Teaching Speaking in the Language Classroom. Singapore: SEAMEO Regional Language Centre.Goh, C. & Burns, A. 2012. Teaching Speaking. A Holistic Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Gower, R., Phillips, D. & Walters, S. 1995. Teaching Practice. A Handbook for Teachers in Training. Oxford: Macmillan Education.Hinkel, E. 2006. Current perspectives on teaching the four skills. TESOL Quarterly 40:109-131.Hofstede, G. 1991. Cultures and Organizations Software of the Mind. London: McGraw-Hill.Jong, N. de & Perfetti, C.A. 2011. Fluency training in the ESL classroom: an experimental study of fluency development and proceduralization. Language Learning 61 (2): 533-568.Khan, B. & Khattak, Z.I. 2012. Anxiety as a cause of poor language learning in Pakistan: A case study. In: M. Pawlak (ed.), Extending the Boundaries of Research on Second Language Learning and Teaching, 143-149. Heildelberg/Dordrecht/London/New York: Springer.Komorowska, H. 2005. Metodyka Nauczania Języków Obcych. Warszawa: Fraszka Edukacyjna.Lazaraton, A. 2001. Teaching oral skills. In: M. Celce-Murcia (ed.), Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language, 103-115. Boston: Heinle & Heinle.Leon, W. & Cely, E. 2010. Encouraging teenagers to improve speaking skills through games in a Colombian public school. Profile 1 (12): 11-31.Levelt, W. 1989. Speaking: From Intention to Articulation. Cambridge/London: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Linnenbrink, E. & Pintrich, P. 2003. The role of self-efficacy beliefs in student engagement and learning in the classroom. Reading and Writing Quarterly 19: 119-137.Macedonia, M. 2005. Games and foreign language teaching. Support for Learning 20(3): 135-140.MacIntyre, P., Dörnyei, Z., Cléments, R. & Noels, K. 1998. Conceptualising willingness to communicate in a L2: A situational model of L2 confidence and affiliation. The Modern Language Journal 82(4): 545-562.Mills, N. 2014. Self-efficacy in second language acquisition. In: S. Mercer & M. Williams (eds.), Multiple Perspectives on the Self in SLA, 6-22. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Nation, P. 2011. Second language speaking. In: E. Hinkel (ed.), Handbook of Research in Second Language Teaching and Learning, 444-454. New York/Oxon: Routledge.Nation, P. & Newton, J. 2009. Teaching ESL/EFL Listening and Speaking. New York/London: Routledge.Nerlicki, K. 2011. Foreign language speaking anxiety from the perspective of Polish students of German studies. In: J. Majer, E. Waniek-Klimczak & M. Pawlak (eds.), Speaking and Instructed Foreign Language Acquisition, 134-144. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.Pawlak, M. 2011. Instructed acquisition of speaking: Reconciling theory and practice. In: J. Majer, E. Waniek-Klimczak & M. Pawlak (eds.), Speaking and Instructed Foreign Language Acquisition, 3-23. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.Piechurska-Kuciel, E. 2011a. The relationship between language anxiety and the development of the speaking skill: Results of a longitudinal study. In: J. Majer, E. Waniek-Klimczak & M. Pawlak (eds.), Speaking and Instructed Foreign Language Acquisition, 87-95. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.Piechurska-Kuciel, E. 2011b. Willingness to communicate in L2 and self-perceived levels of FL skills in Polish adolescents. In: J. Arabski & A. Wojtaszek (eds.), Aspects of Culture in Second Language Acquisition and Foreign Language Learning, 235-251. Berlin/ Heidelberg: Springer.Rivers, W.M. 1968. Teaching Foreign-Language Skills. Chicago/London: The University of Chicago Press.Rubio, F.D. 2014. Self-esteem and self-concept in foreign language learning. In: S. Mercer & M. Williams (eds.), Multiple Perspectives on the Self in SLA, 41-58. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Savignon, S.J. 1976. Communicative Competence: Theory and Classroom Practice. Paper presented at the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (Detroit, Michigan, April 23, 1976).Tarone, E. 2005. Speaking in a second language. In: E. Hinkel (ed.), Handbook of Research in Second Language Teaching and Learning, 485-502. Mahwah, N.J.: Routledge.Thornbury, S. 2005. How to Teach Speaking? Edinburgh Gate; Harlow; Essex: Pearson Education Limited.Thornbury, S. 2006. An A-Z of ELT Concepts. A Dictionary of Terms and Concepts. Oxford: Macmillan Education.Wilson, A. 2014. Supporting Speaking and Listening. Hoboken: Routledge.30 (3/2020)577