Improving speaking skills for English-major students at International School through the exploitation of synonyms

Abstract

Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of exploiting and using
synonyms to improve speaking skills among English-major students at the International School. Data
were collected from pre- and post-speaking tests, analysis of recorded speaking performances, and
student feedback questionnaires. The results indicate that students showed significant improvement in
lexical diversity, reduced word repetition, and demonstrated greater fluency and coherence in their
speech. In addition, the majority of students expressed positive attitude toward this approach, noting
that it helped expand their vocabulary, increase their confidence, and enhance the overall quality of
their speaking performance. The findings affirm that integrating synonym exploitation is a feasible
and valuable approach in teaching speaking skills at the university level.
Key words: Speaking skills; utilizing; synonyms; lexical resource; diverse.