Being able to speak or communicate orally is an ultimate goal for most English language learners. Thus, teaching speaking is a main component of the curriculum in most communicative-based English language classrooms. However, teachers struggle to teach speaking in English language classrooms. Two main reasons contribute to this struggle: insufficient time for speaking practice in language classrooms and students’ unwillingness to communicate due to anxiety. Asynchronous Computer-Mediated Communication (ACMC) may have the potential to provide a solution to this difficulty. A widely accessible mobile application that can provide an easily implemented ACMC tool is WhatsApp. The current case study explored the potential use of WhatsApp for teaching English speaking in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context. 15 Saudi EFL learners of English were recruited to participate in the present study. A mixed-method approach comprising pre and post-tests, closed-ended questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data for the current study. The findings showed that using WhatsApp can have the potential for improving EFL learners’ speaking performance, increasing their motivation and attitude towards speaking, and decreasing their anxiety and fear of making mistakes when speaking. WhatsApp can provide an effective platform for teaching speaking in an EFL setting where there is a scarcity of time available for oral communication.

中文翻译：

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探索使用 WhatsApp 教授英语学习者口语：案例研究

能够口语或交流是大多数英语学习者的最终目标。因此，在大多数以交际为基础的英语课堂中，口语教学是课程的主要组成部分。然而，教师很难在英语课堂上教授口语。造成这种斗争的主要原因有两个：语言教室里没有足够的时间进行口语练习，以及学生因焦虑而不愿交流。异步计算机介导的通信 (ACMC) 可能有可能为这一困难提供解决方案。可以提供易于实施的 ACMC 工具的广泛访问的移动应用程序是 WhatsApp。当前的案例研究探讨了 WhatsApp 在英语作为外语 (EFL) 环境中教授英语口语的潜在用途。招募了 15 名沙特 EFL 英语学习者参与本研究。使用包括前测和后测、封闭式问卷和半结构化访谈的混合方法来收集当前研究的数据。研究结果表明，使用 WhatsApp 可以提高 EFL 学习者的口语表现，增加他们对口语的动力和态度，并减少他们在口语时的焦虑和害怕出错的恐惧。WhatsApp 可以提供一个有效的平台，用于在缺乏口语交流时间的 EFL 环境中教授口语。和半结构化访谈被用来收集当前研究的数据。研究结果表明，使用 WhatsApp 可以提高 EFL 学习者的口语表现，增加他们对口语的动力和态度，并减少他们在口语时的焦虑和害怕出错的恐惧。WhatsApp 可以提供一个有效的平台，用于在缺乏口语交流时间的 EFL 环境中教授口语。和半结构化访谈被用来收集当前研究的数据。研究结果表明，使用 WhatsApp 可以提高 EFL 学习者的口语表现，增加他们对口语的动力和态度，并减少他们在口语时的焦虑和害怕出错的恐惧。WhatsApp 可以提供一个有效的平台，用于在缺乏口语交流时间的 EFL 环境中教授口语。