Finding Confidence in Spontaneity: Pre-Service English Teachers’ Experiences with Impromptu Speech Activities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26877/eternal.v17i2.4202Keywords:
Impromptu Speech Activities, Self-Confidence, Pre-Service English TeachersAbstract
This study examined how impromptu speech practice helps pre-service English teachers build classroom communication confidence, alongside the key factors driving this growth. Through observations and semi-structured interviews with four student teachers, the collected data underwent thematic analysis. Results indicated that off-the-cuff speech exercises noticeably boosted participants’ fluency, poise, and spontaneous delivery skills. While performance anxiety did not completely disappear, consistent exposure allowed them to handle classroom nerves far better. Beyond personal confidence, these exercises trained participants to think on their feet, structure arguments quickly, and navigate unpredictable student interactions. Ultimately, confidence building was sustained by frequent practice, practical coping mechanism, peer/institutional support, and cognitive-linguistic readiness. Underscoring impromptu speech as a valuable training tool for future educators.
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