Enhancing Elementary Students' Speaking Skills through the Silent Way Method: A Qualitative Case Study

Abstract

Developing English speaking skills among elementary school students remains challenging due to limited vocabulary, low confidence, and the need for more engaging instructional approaches. Although previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the Silent Way method, most have focused on vocabulary mastery or secondary and higher education contexts, leaving limited evidence regarding its implementation in elementary EFL classrooms from a qualitative perspective. Therefore, this study explored how the Silent Way method influenced students’ engagement, participation, classroom behavior, and perceptions during speaking activities. A qualitative case study was conducted with 15 fifth-grade students at SD 1 Margorejo, Indonesia. Data were collected through classroom observations and semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed four major themes: (1) Increased Learner Engagement and Participation, (2) Enhanced Speaking Confidence, (3) Positive Learning Experiences and the Role of Visual Supports, and (4) Persistent Challenges during Speaking Activities. The findings indicate that the Silent Way method encouraged active participation, learner independence, and greater confidence in speaking English, although some students still required additional support when using irregular past tense forms and speaking in front of peers. This study contributes qualitative evidence on the implementation of the Silent Way method in an Indonesian elementary EFL classroom, an area that has received limited attention in previous research. The findings also provide practical insights for elementary English teachers seeking to implement more student-centered speaking instruction through simple visual media and communicative classroom activities.