Using Short Stories to Enhance Speaking Skills at Sudanese Secondary Schools

Abstract

This study intends to develop authentic material in using “Short Stories Technique" to enhance students ' speaking skills. The study also intends to investigate teaching the speaking skills at Sudanese secondary schools and the problems that face EFL learners when speaking in English and to suggest some solutions for these problems. For data collection, the researcher applied the descriptive analytical method. The researcher used three types of instruments for supporting the study. The population of the study was Sudanese second class students from Al-Sheik Hamad Secondary School for Girls and English language teachers and experts in English language teaching. All of them from Atbara town, River Nile State . The sample was composed of (229) divided as the following:- 1- Questionnaire conducted to (110) teachers of English language . 2- Interviews for English language inspectors in Atbara town were carried out and discussed with experts who were specialist in teaching English at Secondary Schools, (they were only nine). 3- A proficiency test for (110) second class students to evaluate their speaking skills’ pronunciation ( intonation, stress, fluency, and accuracy). The method carried in this study is implementing "Short Story Technique" in teaching fifteen short stories with different purposes in the experimental group while in this technique is not used in the controlled group. This is to see the difference between the two groups by comparison of pre-test and post-test results. The study has arrived at the following results : Teachers are not well – trained to teach the speaking skills. It is also found out that the brain – drain of competent teachers in the Sudan has negatively affected not only the process of teaching English but also the educational system. The study also has showed that the overcrowded classes in general education hinder the students from practising the speaking skills inside the classrooms. Practising the speaking skills in a small group outside the classroom improves the students’ spoken language. Secondary School students should be provided at least with some visual aids to be used in teaching the speaking skills. Using of video, computer, pictures and real objects as teaching aids promote the speaking skills. Using of TV and internet as teaching aids develop the speaking skills. Teaching Short Stories can improve EFL students in learning the four skills. Teaching Short Storiesincreases learners’ vocabulary and power of expression. Short Stories play a significant role in teaching the speaking skills if they contain authentic materials from students’ environment. Finally, the researcher in the light of the findings, has suggested some recommendations and further studies on the same area.