Integrating Formulaic Sequences into Explicit Instruction for IELTS Speaking Performance

Abstract

The mastery of Formulaic Sequences (FS) for IELTS speaking test is one prominent aspect of achieving a high band score. The overtly published scoring rubric of IELTS speaking test, including the one in printed course books or available online, highlights that band 7.0 requires the wide range of style and collocation in practice. However, the teaching of FS has not yet been done explicitly in many classroom practices to meet the level in fluency and automaticity. Explicit instructions were evident to be effective for learners to gain knowledge and vocabulary bank that later contribute to better speaking competence. The present study investigates how the FS is acquired by employing explicit instructions in an IELTS speaking preparation class and to eventually ensure if the FS can promote fluency and automaticity. The classroom action research was conducted with observation and focus group discussion. Two cycles were implemented to ensure the acquisition of FS was done effectively and to encourage students to produce the FS more naturally at the end of every mock test in the class. The findings unveiled positive results towards the introduction of FS in both cycles and the FS was successfully acquired as evident from the test conducted at every cycle of the interventions. The explicit instructions represented in every intervention headed towards the more use of FS the students could present in their talk for IELTS speaking Part 2.