Grama Stella is an English teacher with over 15 years of experience teaching at various schools in Moldova. She has a teaching degree and certificates in English language examining. This document outlines her qualifications and research into using active learning strategies to improve student communication skills. Her research involved experimenting with activities like group work, pair work, games and role plays with her students. Pre and post-testing of students' speaking skills showed their average score improved from 8.9 to 9.61 after using these interactive methods. Student surveys also found they preferred activities involving peer interaction over traditional whole-class lessons. The conclusions were that active learning strategies successfully created conversational situations and developed students' communicative competence.

1. Grama Stella
English Teacher, Teaching Degree II
“Prometeu-Prim” Lyceum of Creativity and Inventiveness
Chisinau

2. Curriculum Vitae
2001 – ”I. Creanga” State Pedagogical University, Chisinau
2001 – 2005 – “I. Vatamanu” Lyceum, Straseni
2005 – 2017 - “Prometeu-Prim” Lyceum, Chisinau
2014 – Certificate of KET & PET Examiner, Cambridge ESOL
2014, 2015 – METAAnnual Conference presenter
2014 – 2017 – META active member
2014 – Optional Course Curriculum for the XII-th grade –
“English for Communication” (CDS)
2015 – Teacher’s Guide “Long-Term Plans in English”, META
2015 - Moodle Course on Web 2:00 Teaching Tools, META
2013 – 2017 – Evaluation Committee member within
District, Municipal and National English
Olympiads, Final Exams (secondary stage, BAC)
“Diligence, Talent, Audacity” Conference,
Public Speaking Contest, LCC University (META)

3. 3

4. Students’Achievements in English Competitions
School
Year
Stage
District Munici-
pal
Natio-
nal
Inter-
national
Total
2012-2013 2 - - - 2
2013-2014 2 1 - - 3
2014-2015 - 1 3 1 5
2015-2016 2 1 1 - 4
2017-2018 1 2 4 - 7
Total 7 5 8 1 21

5. Research Hypothesis
cultivate
classroom
conversation
active learning
strategies
student-student
interaction
supportive
atmosphere
5

6. Research Objectives:
O1
• to experiment with various methods and
strategies that encourage students’ active
participation;
O2
• to determine the modern curriculum
conditions of selecting and applying
interactive methods;
O3
• to organize and develop experimental
classes in order to validate active learning
strategies.
6

7. Sample
Experimental Group– 21 students
Average Score - 9.27
Percentage of Success - 100%
Quality Percentage - 100%
43%
43%
14%
0%
Grade V-C
10
9
8
less than 7
7

8. 2. The Ascertaining Experiment
Diagnostic Evaluation
Speaking Test - Grade V
Topic: “My Favourite Book”.
24%
43%
33%
0%
Experimental Group, V-C 10
9
8
less than 7
Average Score – 8.90
Percentage of Success– 100%
Quality Percentage – 100%
8

9. 2. The Ascertaining Experiment
Student Survey
“What type of activities do you prefer most?”
 28.5% - individual tasks
 24% - pair-work activities
 19% - group-work
 28.5% - whole-class activities
9

10. 3. The Conducting of The Experiment
Categories of Active
Learning Strategies
10

11. 3. Practical Issues
What do all these pictures have in common?
11

12. Topic: “Health Hazards”.
Grade IX
Association
12

13. Topic: “Food and Meals”.
Grade VI
Reciprocal Interview
13

14. Topic: “Food and Meals”.
Grade VI
Reciprocal Interview
14

15. Topic: “English Speaking
Countries”.
Taboo Game
15

16. Text: “The Model Millionaire”.
Grade VIII
Give Me Five
16

17. Topic: “Heroes of Our Time”.
Grade VIII.
The Quote Sandwich
17

18. Topic: “Heroes of Our Time”.
Grade VIII.
The Quote Sandwich
18

19. Comparative Analysis of Student Surveys
4. Validating The Results
19

20. 4. Validating The Results
Validation Assessment
Speaking Test - Grade IX
Topic: “Human Virtues”.
76%
10%
14%
0%
Experimental Group, V-C 10
9
8
less than 7
Average Score – 9.61
Percentage of Success– 100%
Quality Percentage – 100%
20

21. 4. Validating The Results
24%
“10”
43% “9”
33%
“8”
Diagnostic Assessment
Average Score – 8.90
Validation Assessment
Average score – 9.61
76%
“10”
10% “9”
14%
“8”
Comparative Analysis of Students Results
21

22. Conclusions
 active learning strategies are efficient in
developing students’ communicative competences;
 active learning strategies create conversational situations;
 the average score for the speaking test has improved from
8.90 to 9.61;
 students have already assimilated interaction rules for a
supportive and lucrative atmosphere;
 active learning strategies create conversational situations;
 Students’ classroom talk increased from 30 to 65 %.
22

23. “I never teach my students, I only
attempt to provide the conditions in
which they can learn.”
A. Einstein
23