Students’ Perceptions Of Group Discussion-Based Collaborative Learning On Oral Presentation Skills

Group discussion-based collaborative learning provides opportunities for students to practice speaking, exchange ideas, and prepare for oral presentations. This study investigates students’ perceptions of group discussion-based collaborative learning and its contribution to the development of oral presentation skills, focusing on its benefits and challenges. The participants were eight undergraduate students from the Department of English Language Education at UIN Ar-Raniry. A qualitative approach was employed, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that students generally had positive perceptions of group discussion-based collaborative learning. They considered group discussion a useful learning experience that helped them prepare presentations, practice speaking, and engage in collaborative learning. Several benefits were identified, including increased confidence, improved speaking fluency, clearer explanation of ideas, and better social and teamwork skills. However, students also reported challenges, including unequal participation among group members, difficulties in interaction, and psychological issues such as nervousness and fear of making mistakes. Overall, the results indicate that group discussion serves as an effective preparatory strategy for oral presentations by helping students organize ideas, enhance speaking practice, build confidence, and develop communication skills in a supportive learning environment.