<![CDATA[Student engagement plays an important role in supporting students’ participation and learning in EFL classrooms. However, limited opportunities for communicative practice may limit students’ confidence and participation in speaking activities. This classroom action research investigated how the implementation of Small Group Discussion fostered students’ engagement in speaking. The study was conducted with nine eleventh grade students at a private senior high school in Yogyakarta through two classroom action research cycles. Data were collected using an engagement observation checklist, interviews, and field notes and were analyzed descriptively and thematically. The observation checklist focused on two dimensions of engagement, namely Effort and Initiative. The findings showed an increase in both dimensions across the two cycles. Students also demonstrated greater enthusiasm, more active participation, and increased use of English during speaking activities. Interview findings further indicated that students perceived Small Group Discussion as an enjoyable approach that provided more opportunities to practise speaking, express opinions, and work collaboratively. The findings suggest that Small Group Discussion can serve as a practical classroom-based approach to fostering students’ engagement in EFL speaking.]]>
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