The purpose of this study was to investigate pre-service English teachers’ reticent beliefs towards oral participation in English for Academic Purpose classrooms. To this end, 144 Malaysian pre-service English teachers enrolled in a teacher-training programme participated as respondents in a survey conducted using the Reticent Belief Index. They were all diagnosed with high level of reticence prior to the study. In addition, 24 pre-service teachers, selected randomly from among the survey participants, took part in focus group discussions. The results of the study revealed that the majority of the pre-service English teachers subscribed to eight beliefs that are presumed to be associated with reticent behaviour. Additionally, a newly identified belief, ‘Kiasuim’ was also found to cause the pre-service teachers being reticent in the class. The results of the study point to the importance of alleviating pre-service teachers’ reticent behaviour via a remedial course which incorpor.....

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The purpose of this study was to examine a remedial course to alleviate reticence in oral  participation among TESL (Teaching of English as a Second Language) students in EAP (English for  Academic Purposes) classrooms. Adopting a multiphase mixed- method research design, this study was  implemented in four phases: (I) identification of reticent students, (II) needs assessment, (III)  remedial course development, and (IV) course implementation and evaluation. Data were collected  through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and classroom  observations. 9 EAP instructors and 144 TESL students from a university involved in Phase I and  Phase II of the study. For the remediation, an intact group of 31 TESL students participated in the  remedial course. The needs assessment results in Phase II showed that the remedial course should  cover the teaching of oral participation skills, modifying reticent beliefs and alleviating fear  towards or.....

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