A Hybrid Task Based Learning Program for Developing Higher Education Students’ EFL Speaking Skills and their Attitude

This study aimed at developing higher education students’ EFL speaking skills and their attitude through using a hybrid task based learning program. To fulfill this purpose, these instruments were constructed; a pre-post EFL speaking skills test with a speaking scoring rubric and a pre – post attitude scale. The participants of the study were forty first year higher education students from Mansoura Higher Institute for Engineering and Technology. The study adopted the quasi-experimental design using two groups: the experimental group was taught through the proposed hybrid task based learning program while the control group studied through the regular instructional methods. Results of the study revealed that the experimental group students' EFL speaking skills were significantly developed and they outperformed their control group counterparts in their performance on these targeted skills in addition to developing their attitude towards EFL speaking skills and towards using the hybrid task based learning program as well. It was recommended that hybrid task based learning program should be used in EFL teaching to develop EFL speaking skills and other language skills. Besides, EFL learners should be provided with EFL speaking skills courses in which hybrid task based learning is employed.
Key words:  Hybrid Learning – Task-based Learning – Speaking Skills - Attitude