That’s How We Speak English-- Oral Presentation Skills of Zhuang Ethic Minority EFL Students in China

Abstract

Oral presentation skills are crucial 21st century competencies. In China, oral presentation skills have been listed as one of the targeted core competencies for all college students to achieve in the latest version (2020) of College English Teaching Guidelines. Since the implementation of these guidelines, interest on the topic has intensified. However, a systematic literature review shows that most relevant studies have examined Chinese mainstream (Han) students and few studies have shed light on the oral presentation skills of ethnic minority students. This study examines the oral presentation skills and learning needs of students in Zhuang ethnic minority group. A mixed method research design was employed involving 451 Zhuang students at a public university in China. Participants’ oral presentation skills were examined through self-assessment and teachers’ evaluation of actual performance. Besides, the gap between their current level and the required level was identified. Moreover, the learning needs for developing these skills were explored. Data were collected by using a questionnaire, an oral presentation test and semi-structured interviews. The results showed that (1) Zhuang students perceived their oral presentation skills were at the minimal level. (2) Both self-assessment and expert rater assessment showed that a gap existed between their current level and the required level. (3) Zhuang students wanted to develop skills for all categories, especially questions-handling. These findings have implications for the teaching and learning of oral presentation skills in contexts in which English is taught in EFL contexts, particularly among ethnic minority groups.