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Purpose: This paper discusses an effective instructional method called 'activity based learning' that can be used to develop the speaking skills of students in the elementary school level. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of activity based learning on the development of the speaking skills of low and high achievers in a 6th grade class at the elementary school level. Research Methods: The research was based on pre-test post-test equivalent group design. A total of 50 male students served as participants in this research.

This paper reports on a study that investigates the effect of activity-based learning on the listening skills of male and female students’ achievement. It also considers the differences in the achievement of male and female students of grade VI. The study had a pre-test and post-test equivalent group design. A sample of 120 students was selected randomly from boys’ and girls’ schools of district Nowshera. In both gender schools, control and experimental groups were made. Each group consisted of 30 students. The experimental groups were instructed through activity-based learning, whereas the control groups were taught with the traditional method of language teaching. A total of four teachers, two from each gender school, were selected for teaching the assigned groups. A post-test was conducted at the end of the experiment in both groups. The results of the study showed that the experimental groups performed better than control groups in the listening test. Moreover, no significant difference was found between the achievements of boys and girls in experimental groups. The study recommends that professional teacher training courses should introduce and promote activity-based learning.

To develop reading skills of students, teachers have been advised to provide metacognitive reading strategy instruction by researchers. However, previous research has provided limited understanding of how teachers could foster metacognition of reading strategies in a ‘real’ classroom setting. Moreover, previous research pre-supposed an a priori list of teaching practices in the lessons and did not take into account the needs of the students and the context during metacognitive reading strategy instruction. Studies facilitating metacognitive reading strategy instruction in an ESL setting are also rare. This paper reports on an action research that provides a detailed data-led understanding of how metacognition of reading strategies could be promoted in an ecologically valid university level ESL classroom setting. The study participants of this study were eight undergraduate university students. Data for the study was collected through learner diaries, interviews, think aloud protocols, note-taking, researcher journal and end of class feedback in two action research cycles over an academic year. The findings revealed that providing explicit instruction and opportunities for collaborative discussion about strategy use as well as promoting students’ interest in reading helped raise students’ awareness, use and regulation of reading strategies. Implications of the study are discussed.

This study was undertaken to investigate the outcome of using the activity based learning method on the development of writing skills of students of grade 6. The study used pretest post-test equivalent group design. 50 students were randomly selected from a government school as sample for this study. They were divided into experimental and control groups based on the scores they achieved in pre-test. Students in the experimentalgroup received instruction through activity based method of learning. In contrast, the traditional method of teaching writing was used for teaching the control group. A comparison of pre- and post-test scores on writing measure evidenced that the experimental group performed better that the control group on writing post-test. It was concluded that activities helped enhance the writing skills of the experimental group. This finding suggests that students of elementary level should be engaged in activity based learning to enhance their writing skills.