The effectiveness of using a cloud-based application in developing speaking and critical thinking skills of English major students at faculty of education

الملخص EN

The present study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of VoiceThread in developing speaking and critical thinking skills of English major students at Faculty of Education.

A total of 30 EFL second year students enrolled in English Department at the Faculty of Education, Mansoura University participated in the study which involved one group experimental design.

Instruments designed and used were an EFL speaking checklist; critical thinking Checklist; speaking and critical thinking test; rubrics for scoring speaking and critical thinking skills and an interview.

Activities based on the use of VoiceThread were carried out by the study group.

The results of the statistical analysis showed that there was a significant development in students' EFL speaking and critical thinking skills.

Consequently, using VoiceThread proved to be effective in developing students' EFL speaking and critical thinking skills.

Keywords: VoiceThread (VT), EFL Speaking Skills, Critical Thinking skills.