Development of English Conversation Drama Practice Exercises to Enhance First-Year Students English-Speaking Proficiency

บทคัดย่อ

          The study examined the impact of English conversation drama practice exercises on the English-speaking proficiency of first-year university students learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Focused on practical and professional conversational skills within the "English for Life and Work" course, the research gathered insights from students in the upper northeastern region of Thailand during the first semester of 2023. Participants were intentionally selected from five cohorts, totaling 500 students enrolled in the course. Data analysis involved percentage analysis, calculating the mean, assessing standard deviation, and continuous testing. The findings revealed that prior to the intervention, the experimental group exhibited a high level of English speaking ability, with an average rating of 3.86. However, only 13.3% of students demonstrated admirable speaking abilities. Following the intervention, an impressive 93.3% of students achieved a 'very good' level of English speaking proficiency. An extensive assessment of students' speaking skills before and after the experiment showcased a significant improvement, surpassing their initial proficiency levels. These results underscore the effectiveness of English conversation drama practice exercises in substantially enhancing students' English-speaking skills, with statistical significance observed at the .05 level.