Abstract:
In the light of the increasing demand on communication, the motor of international
integration, oral communication has particularly become the foremost concern of English
language teachers. Simulation is considered one of the most potential activities; teachers
apply, to activate learners’ speaking and listening in the interaction process. The present
research investigates the impact of simulation activities on the teaching and learning of
speaking and listening at the Department of Letters and the English Language, University of
Frères Mentouri, Constantine 1. Indeed, this thesis sheds light on the students’ perception of
the benefits and challenges they encounter through simulation as well as teachers’ views and
recommendations for exploiting this activity in second year EFL classrooms. We hypothesize,
then, that when teachers apply simulation technique; this would develop second year EFL
students’ listening and speaking proficiency. We also hypothesize that applying simulation
teaching technique would stimulate students’ positive attitudes and interest. A sample pre and
post-test comparison study was used as a research methodology. In addition, this study is
based on a questionnaire that was distributed to 40 second year students of English. The
results reveal that the mean of communicative speaking testing scores in the post-test was
significantly higher than in the pre-test at .05 significant level with (t = 2.90) in Exp. G. 1 and
(t= 3.57) in Exp. G. 2. The first hypothesis is is consequently confirmed with slight
reservation about listening improvement which does not allow complete confirmation of the
first hypothesis. The Second hypothesis is validated as over 80% of students in both
experimental groups held positive attitudes towards simulation activities. Besides, most of the
teachers acknowledged their positive impact on students’ performance and the classroom
environment. Suggestions and recommendations are made as to how to improve and
maximise the teaching and learning advantages using simulation technique.
