Developing English Presentation and Speaking Skills in an International and Academic Context

This paper will report the creation, implementation, and the outcome of a series of workshops conducted at a womenʼs university in Japan. These workshops were offered to graduate students and university teaching staff with the purpose of developing their ability to present in an academic settings using English as the medium of communication. The workshops focused on skill building activities such as interactive discussions, short presentations, and collaborative group tasks. These tasks were designed to facilitate active participation, peer learning, and reflection on personal communication goals among participants. To evaluate the outcomes of the program, participants in the program were given pre-task and post-task interviews and questionnaires which were intended to measure the degree of participant self-efficacy and motivation. The results of these data showed that although language skill remained steady from the beginning to the completion of the program, self-efficacy and motivation increased among all participants. This paper will provide an overview of the program, discuss the findings from the measured outcomes, and provide reflection regarding language assistance for academics.