Exploring Libyan EFL Students' Perceptions of Small Group Discussion in Speaking Classrooms: A Focus Group Study at Elmergib University

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of small group discussions in an English-speaking classroom setting. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Languages, English Language Department, at Elmergeb University, Libya. A total of twelve students volunteered to participate in the study. To attain this goal, qualitative research was conducted using a semi-structured interview. The study's findings demonstrate that students thought that employing small group discussion in the English-speaking classroom increased their interest in learning to speak and inspired them to learn more. The participants acknowledged that the model of learning by utilizing small group discussion increased their interest in studying speaking and made them feel encouraged to learn by using small group discussion approach. Each participant described the benefits of using small group discussions. The benefits include: making it easier for learners to study, increasing student activity, allowing students to express their ideas, and motivating students.