Expectation vs. Experience: Comparing Pre-Assessment Expectations and Post-Assessment Perceptions of Real-Time Communication Barriers in Tertiary Speaking Assessment

One significant skill to have for university graduates entering the workplace is the ability to speak, but many students find it hard to move from prepared individual presentations to spontaneous group discussions. This study looks at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students’ views on their formal group discussion skills before and after an assessment in UHLB 3132 (Professional Communication Skills 2). It explores students’ baseline preparation, concerns and confidence before the assessment, as well as their perceived challenges, confidence and views on the course materials after the assessment. Responses from Google Form questionnaires were collected before (N=291) and after (N=167) the assessment across 10 faculties. The comparison revealed differences between the challenges students anticipated before the assessment and those they reported after completing it. 52.9% expected the major challenge with the task to be managing arguments. However, during the actual assessment, 48.5% found organising their ideas in real time to be the hardest part. Among the forms of blended learning support, live classroom practice received the highest usefulness rating (85.0%). Taken together, these findings suggest that instructors should pay greater attention to teaching students to quickly arrange their points under time pressure.

Formal Group Discussion, Pre-Assessment Expectations, Post-Assessment Perceptions, Real-Time Communication Barriers, Speaking Confidence, Pedagogical Support

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