Investigating the Effects of Debate and Peer Assessment in Improving EFL Learners’ Speaking Skill The Case of First Year LMD Students of English at Biskra University

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the effect of peer assessment and debate in improving EFL learners speaking skill in the Department of English, university of Biskra. Students of English as a foreign language are facing a variety of problems that make their speaking not proficient. Thus, a descriptive method has been conducted, in which two questionnaires were administered. The first one has been provided to a sample group (40) of first year LMD students who were assigned randomly; whereas, the other questionnaire was addressed to (08) English teachers of the English Department at Biskra University. The main aim of these questionnaires was to gather significant information about the effectiveness of peer assessment and debate in improving speaking proficiency in EFL classrooms. The gathered data have shown that peer assessment and debate are two effective techniques which develops students’ speaking proficiency. Consequently, the results of the questionnaires have confirmed the research objectives. In the light of the results, teachers need to recognize the significant role played by peer assessment and debate in developing the speaking skill