Chapter 4 Findings and Discussion

This chapter describes the cases studies perception toward risk taking for learning English, their perception of pair work to encourage participation and analyze all data that students gave to the research team. This chapter consists of two sections. The first section, we analyzed the data based upon the finding from the different observations and interviews that we conducted with the participants. Finally, the second segment mentions the research questions again and offers a further discussion of the findings presented and analyzed in the previous section. 4.1 Perception of risk taking According to Bang (1999) risk-taking in language learning is an active oral participation or contribution such as: making question, answering them, and making comments during the lesson. In other words, risk taking in language setting is an involvement, which engaged learners in the development of the class. That position is also shared by Young (1991) who stated that Risk-taking is an impulse to take a decision concerning something new and different, without putting the primary focus on success or failure, but learning as the reward of taking risk. Following the same pattern, Bang (1999) 241 stated that, risk-taking behavior in language learning is a dynamic oral participation or contribution such as: making question, answering them, and making comments during the lesson. In other words, risk taking behavior is an oral active participation, which engaged learners in the development of the class. Young asserted that (1991) risk-taking is a desire learners have to take part in the learning process. With that position in mind, Bang concluded in his that, all participants (100%) demonstrated an optimistic opinion of risk-taking behavior, associated with English oral ability. From the interviews and observations, we similarly found that students have a good perception of risk taking related in speaking activities, since they may share their ideas, thoughts. Therefore they improve their abilities, skills and get more experience in the language. In this sense, risk-taking behavior is viewed by the students as an opportunity to exchange their ideas, being actively involved in class discussions without thinking about possible consequences and to talk to other classmate. Moreover, they have the possibility of taking part in the dialogues, in the role plays and some other orals activities in class, which make them feel relaxed and confident when taking risk to participate in the lessons.

Julio taking risk is important in the speaking activities, for I can express my opinions and to communicate my feelings and to participate in class, so it is a great chance of getting better my capacities in the language Viejo speaking up is a good activity to take risk, because it is the greatest opportunity to show what one leant and to be involved in class discussion. Besides it helps to take more risks since one sees the classmates participating and that can help to do so Arley I think that communicative activities can be better to take risk to participate in class, they helps the students to be involved and to take every opportunity to demonstrate what it has been leant Yassiry risk taking is important for learning a language, I can interact with my classmates, they say what they think, I listen to them and they listen to me Yasney oral participation is a way to take risk in class, so I suppose that with that types of activities is easier for me to take risk to be engaged in class discussion Naomi risk taking is good for learn a language, I expand my abilities in the language and my partners realize what I know Different from Bang and based on the data, we found that the students also have a good perception of risk taking because it is a great opportunity to get confidence from their participation and it is similarly an chance to trust themselves, since every time they take risk to be engaged in the class gives them the possibility to get more language skills and so they leave fears, nervous and difficulties in the process, thus they can confident thank to the supports or assistance they get from their classmates and the teacher as well, additionally,we noticed that the students have a good perception toward risk taking because they practice the language, despite of the mistakes they made. Julio even I do not usually take risk when I take the chance of speaking up in class, I do it because it is a great possibility of feelings well with myself and to get better my capacities in the language Viejo I think that taking risk is the greatest class time to show myself that I am able, the problem is that it makes me feel nervous, however I take risk to demonstrate to my classmates that I am not so stupid as they say, and it helps me to leave my worries Arley when I take risk that gives me animus to follow doing that, I feel great and I also forget my limitations in the language because it makes me feel proud of me, I say to myself I am taking risk so I can learn English

Yassiry I like when I decide to take risk it is something important to me, I feel more confident, it gives me more desire to participate in class and I left my nervous as well. Yasney I cannot believe when I take risk in class, but when I take risk to participate in class, it is a great happiness for me, that day I think about that and say to me come on, taking risk is possible and it has a lot benefits for my learning process. I really like that choices Naomi risk taking is good for learning a language, I forget my fears and I think about my class who most time take risk and they are good students, so I say to me I am also a good students because I take risk to speak in this activity Young concluded that, risk taking is important in language learning because it makes learners being more productive in the process, given that risk taking gives them background to participate, to practice and to receive supports from their classmates and feedbacks from the teacher as well. Likewise, Ely et al also suggested that, risk taking is significant in language educational process, since learners become more successful when contribute in class, that in part to the abilities they get through attempts and experience in the class development. Luft suggested that risk-taking behavior is significantly correlated with language performance and risk taking is fundamental in language learning. Likewise, Sammy and Tabuse also affirmed that risk-taking in foreign language leads to greater foreign language ability. Following the same pattern, Ely manifested that risk-taking is vital to get a high standard in L2 learning, due in part to the experience learners acquire being engaged in class discussion; besides risk-taking is also necessary for the participation of learners in class. Moreover, Slinger noted that greater willingness to take risk and to making mistakes is necessary to learn a language. From the interviews and the observations, we also realized that risk taking is significant for the students because they can show what they have learnt during the process and they may interact with their classmates solving problems or participating discussions during speaking activities, besides through risk taking learners have the opportunities to exchange ideas, demonstrate their evolution in process and to participate in class, it provides students more ability to express their ideas and to exchange information with their classmates. Julio taking risk is important in the speaking activities, for I can express my opinions and to communicate my feelings and to participate in class, so it is a great chance of getting better my capacities in the language

Viejo I think taking risk is very essential because it helps me to leave my nervous and I can get feedbacks from the teacher. It gives me more opportunities to express what I have leant. Besides, Arley taking the risk is an opportunity to express my ideas and show what I have leant. Plus, if I take risk I get better my image in the eye of the teacher Yassiry risk taking is vital for learning a language, I can interact with my classmates, they say what they consider, I listen to them and they listen to me Yasney and Naomi We think if we take the risk to participate in class we learn more because we can receive feedbacks from the teacher and to practice what we have learnt. Besides that stimulates the learning.

4.1.1 Aspects affecting risk taking

Bang (1999) asserted in his study that factors that affect risk taking are those things that are derived outdoor the learners. He also said that, there are some aspects that tap students to take risk, he divided the aspects into internal and external factors, so he mentioned role of the teacher and error correction as factors that affect risk taking. From the observation and the interviews, we also found that even the students have a positive view toward risk taking related to English class; they do not take risk to participate in the development of class, since there are some factors that hinder them to take risk or to be engaged in the lessons, among other things they mentioned the role of the teacher, the way teacher correct their mistakes and smirks from their own classmates as factors that stop them to take risk in English class. Further, based on the data, we also realized that students do not take risk to participate in English speaking activities because they get nervous and their grades can be affected if they make mistake during their participation. Julio I do not take the risk to participate in class because I think my participation can affect my grades so that I stay quiet, besides I do not like how the teacher correct my mistakes because he is always saying you do not know to say that in English how come, that makes me get frightened Viejo I do not take risk to participate in class, I feel very sad because my classmates always smirk at me and that makes me feel bad, moreover I think that my grades are going to be bad if my participation in such activities is not good at the teacher eyes

Arley I think if my classmates do not laugh at me I could take more risk to participate in English class, the smirk makes me feel down. Other things that make me stay quiet in speaking activities are my grades, the way my teacher correct my mistakes and his role. He is very rude when giving feedbacks to me; he says do not know that simple word, what happen. Besides he usually criticize me when I make mistakes Yassiry I do not take risk to keep my grades high, if I take risk, I can be wrong and I know that the teacher is going to put me a bad grade because he does not take in mind my participation but my mistake; for that reason I get scared and do not take risk to participate in class. Moreover, I work alone in class and that make me feel more nervous. Yasney To foster risk taking, the role of the teacher must be as organizer or as a person who always is giving us suggestions about what to do and how to do so, besides, he must give us advice in order to make us feel confident at the time of participate in class, but the teacher is generally angry, bad temper and never gives us the opportunity to talk to him or gives us suggestions in a good way. Besides, when he corrects our mistakes, he forgets that we are learning and make me and other classmates are as stupid Naomi risk taking is good for learning a language, however I do not take risk because the way the teacher is with me, he normally complains about my mistakes by saying you again, that and my grades stop me to take risk to participate. Additionally, I work alone and I do not sometimes know how to say or to express something but I do not have a classmate who can assist me to remember how to say what I want to From the observation and the interviews, we noticed that learners do not take more risks to express their opinion and ideas in the speaking activities class, in part because of the way they are corrected by their classmates and the teacher, when they make mistakes. Thus, they prefer staying silent and to write what they could communicate verbally. For that reasons, we assumed that error correction was other aspect, which stops learners to take more risks in English lessons, since students were afraid of the way the teacher and their classmates correct their mistakes, every time they made an error, their professor and their partners complain drastically and make them remember that at this level they may be able to express their opinions and thoughts clearly enough to be understood by everyone. Therefore, these particular students think carefully before taking constant risks.

Julio taking risk is essential in the speaking activities, but I do not usually take risk to participate because I do not like how the teacher corrects my mistakes, he always criticize the students and I think that is not the way to make the learners see what their mistakes are Viejo I think that the teacher and my classmates need to know that everybody can make mistakes when speaking or participating in a class discussion and so they must appreciate what I say and not make me feel badly Arley If I were corrected in a good way, I am sure I could participate more in class and my nervous could leave as well, but with these classmates that is not possible and the teacher does not help to get better that situation. He is with all the students who know more and laugh at the rest of the learners Yassiry I seldom take risk and when I make mistakes I do not receive good feedbacks from my teacher, any way I am not going to let them do that anymore, for that reason I have decided to following taking risk despite of my partners smirk Yasney when my teacher criticizes me in that way, I ask if he is a teacher or he is a person as anybody else, since a teacher must help the students to learn more and more every day Naomi I hate when my classmates and my teacher smirk at me and correct me in a bad way, I do not say anything because I respect the teacher but he should change that way of correcting the students From the observation, we also noticed that learners feel sad when taking risk, since when they make mistake in speaking activities, their classmates permanently smirk at them and that situation makes them feel imprudent. Consequently, they were just listening to their other partners and when the teacher asked them to take part in class discussion, they reject to do so. Moreover, the case studies were nervous and get frighten not only because their possibilities to make mistakes when speaking up but the critics and bad comments from their classmates. Julio even I do not usually take risk, I take the chance of speaking up in class when I am working with a classmate, she/ he can make me feelings well with myself to say what the teacher ask me Viejo I think that taking risk is easier when working with a partner, as I work alone I get bored. However, when working with other student I take risk to demonstrate to the other classmates that I am able to leave my worries

Arley when I work with a pair that gives me animus to take risk, so I feel great participating and I do not care about my mistakes and I also have somebody who gives advices. It makes the environment to take risk so I can learn more English Yassiry I like to take risk just if somebody is helping me to do so, thus,I feel more confident, it gives me more desire to participate in class and I left my nervous as well. Yasney I take risk in class, but when I work with a classmate who knows more than me and he is working with me, I know that everyone is going to be taking risks and are not going to pay attention on my mistakes Naomi taking risk is easy when a classmate is by my side, assisting me what to do During the implementation stage, we also found that other factor that does not let the students to take more risks to actively participate in the development of the communicative activities was that, in the majority of the class they were working alone in class discussion. That situation intimidates them to take part in class and makes them to get more nervous and to feel more pressure than when they were working together a classmate. Julio when I take risk to participate in English class, my classmates say silent you do not know anything and you are always saying nothing, that is wrong from their part one must respect what the other person is going to say, but when I work with other classmates thiong is a little different because they say, he is working with an intelligent lets listen to him Viejo I think if my classmate does not smirk at me I could participate more in class, the smirk makes me feel a little sad Arley when I take risk that gives me animus to follow doing that, I feel great and I also forget my limitations in the language because it makes me feel proud of me, I say to myself I am taking risk so I can learn English Yassiry I do not feel well when my classmates because I want to learn but a classmate is always criticizing me, laughing at me Yasney I would like to receive class in a classroom, where my classmates cannot smirk at me, that is horrible for me, they underestimate me, every time I am going to say something, they smirk at me when I take risk in class Naomi If I take the risk to participate in class and make mistakes, my classmates smirk at me, that situation makes me feel badly

4.1.3 Factor that foster risk taking According to Bang concluded that there are some factors that facilitate risk taking in a language setting, thus he stated that factors that facilitate risk taking are those elements that help students to take constant risk in class. He listed three major factors, 1) preparation for class 2) strong motivation 3) positive attitude for learning, and 4) pair work activities. Even Bang declared that preparation for class , strong motivation , positive attitude for learning are among the aspects that facilitates risk taking, from the observations and interviews, we did not realize that those three factors have incidence to promotes risk taking in this particular students; however from the data, we found that pair work activities is necessary at the time of fostering risk taking in these students, in part because all of them prefer taking risk in pair activities or to take part to speak up to the whole class, since pair work assists them to leave nervous and to concentrate a little more than when they are working alone. Julio taking risk is easy when I am working in pairs, I have more opportunities to participate in speaking activities and to take risk easily, for I can express my opinions and to communicate my feelings and to participate in class with the help of one of my partners, that provides me a safe environment to take risk in class Viejo take risks to speaking up is much better when working with a classmate, who gives me force to do so without taking care of the consequences. Besides it helps to take more risks since one sees the classmates participating and that gives me more animuses Arley I think that I communicate more in pairs activities because it is better to take risk to participate in class, we help each other to be more involved and to take every opportunity to demonstrate what we have been leant Yassiry risk taking is better when I am working in pairs, when I am alone I feel bad and anything hinder me to participate in class, in pairs I interact with my classmates, they say what they think, I listen to them and they listen to me, so we create the necessary environment to take risks and to speak up to the whole group Yasney definitely I think that risk taking is better when working with a classmate, we know each other and he can make me feel confident, he also gives advice to me and to correct what I do badly and those things create a good atmosphere to take more risk to participate in from of the whole class

Naomi when I work with a classmate is easier for me to say what I know, sometimes I know what the teacher ask me but I do not answer because I think is wrong, however if I am working with a classmate, he makes me remember what I From the observation stage, we realized that students take more risks working in pair than when they are working alone because they receive more support from their pairs and from their other classmates as well. Besides, they work cooperatively and what is missing they try to search without the teacher assistance, that give them the opportunity to trust more in what they do and increase their desire of taking risk and to be engaged in the development of the activities. Julio taking risk is easy when I am working in pairs, I have more opportunities to participate in speaking activities and to take risk easily, for I can express my opinions and to communicate my feelings and to participate in class with the help of one of my partners, that provides me a safe environment to take risk in class Viejo take risks to speaking up is much better when working with a classmate, who gives me force to do so without taking care of the consequences. Besides it helps to take more risks since one sees the classmates participating and that gives me more animuses Arley I think that I communicate more in pairs activities because it is better to take risk to participate in class, we help each other to be more involved and to take every opportunity to demonstrate what we have been leant Yassiry risk taking is better when I am working in pairs, when I am alone I feel bad and anything hinder me to participate in class, in pairs I interact with my classmates, they say what they think, I listen to them and they listen to me, so we create the necessary environment to take risks and to speak up to the whole group Yasney definitely I think that risk taking is better when working with a classmate, we know each other and he can make me feel confident, he also gives advice to me and to correct what I do badly and those things create a good atmosphere to take more risk to participate in from of the whole class Naomi when I work with a classmate is easier for me to say what I know, sometimes I know what the teacher ask me but I do not answer because I think is wrong, however if I am working with a classmate, he makes me remember what I

Theoretical Narrative

As can be noted from the quotes, all case studies have a good perception of risk taking when it is related to activities whereas they are called to express their feelings, thoughts and ideas; that in part because they have to communicate and to show their progress in the language and can interact with their classmates without taking in mind mistakes and to be corrected from the teacher or their classmates. Additionally, taking risk in such kind of activities helps them to develop their communicative abilities and to give them the necessary experience to be involved in the development of English class. Julio Risk taking is a way to say what I think and it is also an opportunity to communicate with the teacher and my classmate. Viejo We think that pair work is important when we are in activities whereas is necessary to speak up because we have the opportunities to show what our abilities are according with our knowledge.

Moreover, the case studies stated that they may take more risk if the role of the teacher change from one whereas the professor becomes a person with more patient, who gives suggestion in a good way, if the educator encourages them to take risk without taking in mind the results of their intention to participate and if the teacher create a good atmosphere in the classroom where, every single students could understand that in a language context mistakes are possible, for that reasons every one may respect one and another and not bother their classmates. Besides, the teacher may value the students desire to take risk to participate and not put bad grades just because the students make mistake when participating in a speaking activity. Furthermore, the teacher should correct the students mistakes in soft way in order to let the students following taking risk to participate in English class. Moreover, the case studies also suggested that it would be better for them to work with other classmates because they could have assistance when they forget how to say something.

Further, from the data, we assume that risk-taking provides students high generator of English skills, given that learners take part in class discussions, and it gives learners solid background to increase their participation in speaking activities. Moreover, risk-taking is a key element that helps the students to acquire new knowledge and to get the language across. It promotes learners participation and to provides learners more opportunities to interact, to share opinions, feelings, and thoughts with the other students. Furthermore, risk taking is necessary for the learners to receive correct feedbacks not only from the teacher but also from their classmates; risk taking is a good predictor of successes in learning and to leave learners nervous.

Finally, the students prefer to take risks in pairs activities, due to in pair works they have more opportunities to interact and to be corrected by their classmates in a soft way, without the teacher supervision, besides it gives them more opportunities to speak to the whole class and to express their feelings. From the data, we assume that pair work activities provides students high opportunities to take risks, given that learners take part in class discussions with the presence of a person who assist the students in all what he /she needs. It increases learners opportunities to participate in speaking activities and to get the language across.