Research in language learning strategy has addressed the necessity of improving oral skills in second language acquisition. This study attempts to explore strategies reported to be employed by 30 EFL advanced program students at Thai Nguyen University of Technology (TNUT) to improve their oral skills. | Dương Đức Minh Tạp chí KHOA HỌC & CÔNG NGHỆ 84(08): 123 - 128 AN EXPLORATION OF STRATEGIES FOR ORAL SKILLS IMPROVEMENT BY ADVANCED PROGRAM STUDENTS AT THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Duong Duc Minh* Thai Nguyen University of Technology - TNU ABSTRACT Research in language learning strategy has addressed the necessity of improving oral skills in second language acquisition. This study attempts to explore strategies reported to be employed by 30 EFL advanced program students at Thai Nguyen University of Technology (TNUT) to improve their oral skills. Semi-structured interview and open-ended questionnaire were used as the instruments for the data collection. The data was then analyzed qualitatively for the purpose of the study. The findings of the study showed that two main categories to improve speaking skills have been reported included 1) fluency-focused strategies and 2) accuracy-focused strategies. Two main categories to improve listening skill comprised 1) direct strategies and 2) indirect strategies. Key words: oral skills improvement, language learning strategy, science-oriented students. INTRODUCTION* Nowadays, English has become an international language, and it is widely used in various areas, especially in education as well as science and technology areas. As the result, students have to be aware of the necessary to employ strategies to success in their study academically and socially. According to Feyten (1991), of the total time people spend on communication, 45% is on listening, 30% on speaking, 16% on reading, and 9% on writing [5]. Oral skills, both speaking and listening, are at the very foundation of literacy, and they play an important role in the study of students, so it is clear that oral skills have an important impact on student's personal and professional life. The advanced program (AP) has been put into practice at TNUT from the academic year 2009 – 2010. In the advanced programs, all the courses are taught in English except .
