Current Issue

TRANSFORMING EMI CLASSROOM DYNAMICS WITH VOICETHREAD: A PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH APPROACH

Liwen Chen

UWE Undergraduate Double Degree Program in Business Administration, 

Chung-Hua University, Taiwan, R.O.C

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Abstract

The purpose of this participatory action research study was to collaboratively explore the role of VoiceThread in enhancing the dynamics of classrooms that use English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI). Ten participants from a Human Resource Management course in a Taiwanese-UK dual degree program contributed to a nuanced understanding of the impact of VoiceThread on students’ engagement and oral communication. Data collected from reflective journals, focus group discussions, and classroom observations were subjected to a thematic analysis and revealed insights into the contributions of VoiceThread to students’ participation in interactive learning. While this tool showed promise in facilitating more engaging learning environments, technical challenges that need to be resolved were also identified in the study. It is underscored in the conclusion that VoiceThread has the potential to enrich EMI educational experiences, contingent upon addressing its technical limitations and optimizing instructional strategies.

Keywords: VoiceThread, participatory action research, English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI), students’ engagement, interactive learning.