Arab Educational Information Network

The current study sought to explore the perceptions of EFL majors' oral performance development in an English Language and Translation Programme (henceforth EL and T Programme). Participants of the study comprised 35 Level One students studying the Listening and Speaking 1 Course. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained through administering a questionnaire, running interviews and conducting classroom observation schemes. The findings of the study indicated that although students perceived the value of using the target language during their classroom interaction, they did not spontaneously interact using it. Furthermore, the presence of the teacher in the classroom, for them, was compelling. More importantly, fear of making mistakes was perceived as a factor that inhibited students’ engagement in classroom interactions. The study concluded with a number of conclusions, pedagogical implication and recommendations for further research. (Published Abstract)