Exploring the Relationship between Verbal and Interpersonal Intelligences and its Effects on Students’ Speaking Skill: Case of First Year EFL Students at Belhadj Bouchaib University

Abstract

Howard Gardner developed the notion of multiple intelligence which outlines the various ways in which students learn. It is made up of eight intelligences. These intelligences are involved in different learning arenas including foreign language context with the four learning abilities of writing, reading, speaking, and listening. Indeed, speaking is one of the four fundamental abilities in learning a foreign language, such as English, which started to be taught recently from primary school. However, learning English has always been linked to issues of comprehension. Indeed, each student has unique difficulties understanding the content being taught, in this concern, the application of the many intelligences model is intended to overcome their concerns. The present study aims at exploring the effect of interpersonal and verbal intelligence in developing students’ speaking skill. For this sake, the researchers conducted a case study research method. They employed three research instruments questionnaire for three EFL teachers and another questionnaire for 80 first year EFL students and the second study tool, organized classroom observation, it was meant to assist the researchers in gathering more trustworthy data. The results found show that both verbal and interpersonal intelligences reinforce the social interaction between students. Thus it helps them to develop their speaking ability and feel confident to use their capacities which make them speak fluently and avoid fear and anxiety. On the basis of the research findings, the researchers offered some suggestions and recommendations for both teachers and students so that they can enhance their performance in teaching and learning processes.