Natural approach applications to develop primary school students' English speaking skills as a foreign language

In this study, the effect of natural approach applications in language teaching on speaking skills in primary school 4th grade English lesson was investigated. The study was carried out in a state school affiliated to Eskişehir provincial directorate of national education. Mixed research method was used in the study. Quantitative data in the study were obtained by using the "English Speaking Skills Rubric for Primary School Students" applied to the experimental and control groups as a pre-test and post-test. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Mann Whitney-U test, which is one of the non-parametric tests. Qualitative data based on teacher and student views on the way the natural approach is applied in the classroom environment and the application process; Observation, interview form, researcher's diary, student diaries and student products were obtained and analyzed descriptively. As a result of the research, it was found that the natural approach improved the English speaking skills of primary school 4th grade students and that teachers and students had positive views on the use of the natural approach in English lessons. In this direction, as a result of the research, suggestions were made to popularize the natural approach practices in English lessons and to benefit from the approach for the development of other language skills.