The use of powerpoint presentations to motivate First year scientific stream secondary school pupils to learn English as a foreign language

Abstract

Visual technology in teaching has proved to be very useful in recent years. Hence, this study attempts to show how to motivate First year secondary school pupils to learn English through the use of one of the ICT’s (Information and Communication Technologies),Power Point Presentations, in the process of teaching and learning English in secondary schools. It aims at enhancing students’ motivation through attracting their attention by using audio visual aids. To realize this aim, the researcher opts for a quasi experimental design. The problem that this study tries to tackle is students’ lack of motivation towards learning English as a foreign language. Thus, it can be hypothesized that if students are taught using a new way of teaching through PowerPoint presentations, then they would be motivated and interested in studying English. A pre-test and a post-test are used with a group of thirty five students selected randomly from the whole population of first year scientific stream students (210 students) at Oued Taga secondary school (Batna). They are taught using power point presentations of some selected items in their units using projectors for a period of 20 weeks.A number of research instruments are used to collect data. Two questionnaires are addressed to EFL teachers and students in the same secondary school. Moreover, the classroom observation was set in order to obtain more direct, real and accurate data on what is going on when teaching with audio visual aids. The data collected were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, using SPSS24 with a paired sample t-test. The findings revealed that teachers and learners support the use of PPPs. The teachers affirmed that they use it as a helpful tool to assist their teaching without neglecting the use of traditional methods. Besides, the learners believe that its use helps them a lot. Moreover, all of them recognized the importance of using educational technology and confirmed that it has a significant role in the EFL teaching and learning process.As a result, the results revealed the effectiveness of teaching via power point presentations, although some learners prefer the traditional way of learning.