The Perceived Characteristics and Advantages of Information Gap Activities Used in Learning Speaking at Englishopedia: Observational Study

Abstract

In EFL context the necessity of English, chiefly speaking skill is demanded when it comes as requirement for continuing higher education and facing cross-cultural communication. Information gap activity is considered to be implied for developing students’ intelligence and ability to communicate and interact in real-situation. This research aims at explaining the implementation of information gap activities at Englishopedia and how students’ perceive the activities. The researcher used qualitative observational study, which the data were collected from observations, interview and documents. This research is conducted in Englsihopedia with 33 students during observation and 3 participants during interview were involved in this research. The research findings revealed that the information gap activities facilitating the students in practicing speaking. The most prominent information gap activities were conversation through pair-work. Furthermore, the students were enthusiastic in terms of pair-work activities, because it gave them new ideas, and triggered to speak by the other participants and enrollment of native speaker, thus establish students’ motivation to learn and using English.