An Effective Way of Public Speaking Skills of Students at Pathein University in Ayeyarwaddy Region of Myanmar
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This study examined factors associated with effective public speaking and proposed strategies for improving the public speaking skills of B.A. students at Pathein University in the Ayeyarwady Region of Myanmar. A mixed-methods research design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 70 B.A. students from the Faculty of English, while qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with five experienced university lecturers. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, whereas qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings indicated that students generally perceived public speaking as beneficial for their academic and personal development, with an overall mean score of 1.92 (SD = 0.81), interpreted as moderately high. The highest-rated benefit was the ability to express ideas clearly (M = 2.45, SD = 0.77), followed by enhanced career opportunities (M = 2.40, SD = 0.94) and reduced fear and anxiety (M = 2.37, SD = 1.09). Regarding strategies for improving public speaking, the overall mean was 2.12 (SD = 0.95), indicating a high level of agreement. Audience awareness (M = 2.70, SD = 1.00), learning from experienced speakers (M = 2.64, SD = 2.51), and repeated practice (M = 2.54, SD = 0.77) were among the most highly rated strategies. Interview findings further identified fear, lack of confidence, inadequate preparation, difficulty expressing ideas, and forgetting key points as major challenges. The study proposes a three-stage framework—preparation, delivery, and evaluation—emphasizing audience analysis, organized content, rehearsal, effective verbal and nonverbal delivery, and continuous self-reflection. The findings suggest that systematic instruction and sustained opportunities for practice should be integrated into university curricula to strengthen students’ public speaking competence.
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