New perspectives: New Challenges

This paper reports on the perceptions of students towards the role of using different in- class activities in improving the English language learners’ communicative skills. It aims at finding out if the perceptions of students are affected by several variables such as gender, teacher’s reinforcement, students’ preparation for the class, reason for enrolling in the conversation class. To identify factors affecting students’ oral communication fluency, three instruments were used to collect data: a questionnaire, interviews and observations. The results indicated the effectiveness of using extensive in-class listening activities through listening to recorded materials in addition to participation in active listening exercises. Findings also showed the importance of the teachers’ feedback in improving oral production. Finally, the researchers recommend that the English and Methods of Teaching Departments increase the number of oral communication courses that provide students with the chance to practice and improve their oral communication skills. Moreover, further research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of developing and choosing authentic material relevant to the students’ cultural values.