The effectiveness of phonological instruction for the development of oral skills in A1 level students La efectividad de la instrucción fonológica para el desarrollo de las habilidades orales en estudiantes de nivel A1

Resumen

EThis study examined the effectiveness of a phonological instruction program in developing oral skills among A1-level students in a rural school in Ecuador. The research was conducted at La Siberia Educational Unit in Mache, Pedernales (Manabí), with a group of seven elementary school students. The program incorporated phonological activities, including explicit instruction on segmental features (vowels, consonants, and minimal pairs), as well as suprasegmental elements such as stress and rhythm. In addition, communicative pronunciation tasks were implemented to promote meaningful oral production. A mixed-methods design was adopted, combining quantitative data from pre- and post-speaking assessments with qualitative data obtained through classroom observations and student perception questionnaires. The findings revealed noticeable improvements in students’ intelligibility, pronunciation accuracy, and confidence when speaking English. Furthermore, students showed positive attitudes toward the phonological activities, which helped them organize and use language more effectively. Overall, the results suggest that this type of instruction can support the development of oral skills and contribute to more equitable language learning opportunities in rural contexts