Strengthening English language undergraduates' presentation skills: A blackboard-mediated intervention program

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Applied Linguistics
• Higher Education

Background:

• Graduates often lack essential presentation skills, hindering employability.
• A gap exists in effective interventions for developing these crucial competencies.
• English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students may face particular challenges in professional presentation contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a Blackboard-mediated intervention for enhancing EFL students' presentation skills.
• To assess the impact of targeted workshops on presentation competencies.
• To gauge student perceptions of the intervention's usefulness.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, time-series design was employed.
• Workshops focused on presentation skills were delivered via Blackboard.
• Data collected through pre/post-assessment checklists and semi-structured interviews from 30 EFL students.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in students' presentation skills was observed post-intervention.
• Students reported favorable attitudes towards the intervention program.
• The Blackboard platform effectively facilitated skill development.

Conclusions:

• Blackboard-mediated interventions are effective for improving EFL students' presentation skills.
• Targeted skill development programs can enhance graduate employability.
• Positive student reception suggests the intervention's practical value.