Peer collaboration in the development of speaking skill

Abstract

Over the years, one of the most common problems students faced in classrooms is a lack of confidence in speaking a different language. However, recently, strategies like peer collaboration have become popular to promote oral interaction and help students build confidence. As a result, the current project was developed to analyze how peer-to-peer collaboration enhances students' speaking abilities, focusing on both its positive and negative aspects, as well as exploring its use in second language acquisition. For a more detailed exploration, a qualitative method and phenomenological study were chosen as the methodology. Additionally, data collection involved using eight open-ended questions to interview five teachers from various private institutions in the Santa Elena province, Ecuador. The results obtained, along with the bibliographic research conducted, indicate that peer collaboration is an effective strategy for improving oral skills, as it boosts confidence and reduces anxiety among students.