Licenciatura en Lenguas Extranjeras con Énfasis en Inglés · 2026

Exploring peer behavior and EFL students' oral participation

Oral participation is essential for learning English as a foreign language, as it gives a sense of whether learners are on the right track to achieve the proposed objectives. Through this exploratory case study of three participants at an urban school. We aimed to explore the advantages and disadvantages that peer behavior has on the oral participation of eighth-grade students in an EFL classroom. The data were collected through class observations, student interviews, and reflective journals. Five themes emerged: (a) supportive peer relationships, (b) emotional barriers to oral participation due to peer behavior, (c) hostile classroom environment, (d) fear of negative judgment, and (e) desire for belonging and recognition within the classroom community. The findings revealed that peer behavior plays a significant role in shaping students’ willingness to participate. Finally, the study highlights the importance of fostering positive peer interactions and acknowledges that disruptive actions promoted by others can determine whether the learning environment becomes supportive or unsupportive.