TACKLING ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS’ ENIGMA THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AT HIGHER EDUCATION

This investigative study discusses how to tackle the oral communication skills’ problem of students, who study English as a second language at postgraduate level, through presentations at the public sector institutions. Oral presentation skills are significant for post graduate students as they not only help them in academic but also in their professional life after formal education. The study was conducted on 40 M.A English students and students’ reflections, after six weeks investigation and participatory observation, were recorded in the form of checklist used as tool. The results show that presentation focused teaching is comparatively better for the enhancement of oral skills of the students at post graduate level as the students manifest better performance in the understanding of the subject matter by considering all the aspects of communication and overcome their communication barrier by mustering up self-efficacy in them and interacting more with their peers and instructor because of presentations. In the light of the findings, the study suggests that teaching with a special focus on quality models, like presentations in the present case, should be encouraged and due weight age may be given to this aspect for the enhancement of oral communication skills in English language of the students. It further recommends that presentation focused teaching through technology at post graduate level in our educational environment is the need of time because of the growing importance of English language in the professional set ups and the global village.