Pecha Kucha presentations to develop speaking skills in english learners

Abstract

To gain a better understanding of students’ experiences with PechaKucha presentations, this study adopted a qualitative approach focused on exploring their opinions and personal perspectives regarding the development of speaking skills in English. Five seventh-semester students from the Pedagogy of National and Foreign Languages program at Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena (UPSE) participated in the research. Data were collected through one-on-one online interviews conducted via Zoom using an interview guide composed of eight open-ended questions, allowing participants to describe their experiences in detail. The findings showed that students perceived PechaKucha presentations as an engaging and interactive learning strategy that encouraged active participation during speaking activities. Participants reported improvements in confidence, fluency, oral communication, and the organization of ideas. They also highlighted that the use of visual support made it easier to express ideas clearly and maintain the flow of their presentations. Although some interviewees experienced difficulties related to time management and presentation anxiety, these challenges gradually decreased as they became more familiar with the presentation format. Overall, the results indicate that PechaKucha presentations represent an effective student-centered learning strategy that contributes to the development of speaking skills and promotes meaningful oral communication among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners.