Firoz Akanda

International University Of Business Agriculture and Technology(IUBAT), Department of English and Modern Languages, Faculty Member

University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dept. of English, Undergraduate

University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS), English, Faculty Member

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Before working at IUBAT, Firoz Akanda started his teaching career in 2020 as a lecturer in English at a private university in Bangladesh. His M.A. in Applied Linguistics & ELT and B.A. (Hons) in English degrees are both from the University of Dhaka's Department of English. He got active in a variety of extracurricular activities right away when he started his university studies. His contribution made events like Shakespeare Fest, Lit Fest, study excursions, and picnics memorable.

He has always been interested in making the teaching methods more engaging and culture-appropriate so that students can learn all four English language skills. He thinks that by being amiable with his students, a relevant learning atmosphere can be created.
Address: Dhaka, Dhāka, Bangladesh

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Papers by Firoz Akanda

Zoom as a Teaching Tool to Enhance Students’ Listening and Speaking Skills: Teachers’ and Students’ Perceptions

IUBAT review, Jun 30, 2024

Zoom, an essential tool for online learning, has transformed teaching and learning strategies and... more Zoom, an essential tool for online learning, has transformed teaching and learning strategies and made it possible for teachers to adapt to the ever-changing online landscape. The study explores the perceptions of teachers and students regarding the use of Zoom as a virtual tool for speaking and listening classes at private universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh.It involves five English language teachers and 15 students, employing qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews. Results indicate improved speaking skills but not listening skills due to issues like power cuts, unstable internet, device unavailability, lack of concentration, and buffering. Despite obstacles, both teachers and students view Zoom favorably for speaking tasks but face challenges with overall listening comprehension.

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Extra-linguistic Factors Affecting Learner's English Speaking at the Tertiary Level in Bangladesh

IUBAT review, Dec 31, 2023

This study investigates the primary speaking difficulties encountered by tertiary-level English a... more This study investigates the primary speaking difficulties encountered by tertiary-level English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners in Bangladesh and explores the influence of extra-linguistic factors on their English-speaking abilities. The research involves 77 participants from six Bangladeshi universities who have completed at least one English-speaking course. Utilizing a Likert-scale questionnaire encompassing 13 closed-ended questions, the study employs a quantitative approach. The findings reveal that speaking challenges are prevalent among EFL learners, with major difficulties including lack of conceptual knowledge, fluency, vocabulary, confidence, and grammar. Additionally, cultural, psychological, educational, and social factors significantly influence speaking proficiency. The cultural influences encompass pronunciation, communication styles, and idiom comprehension-where psychological factors like confidence and fear of making mistakes play a vital role. Educational factors, including classroom environments and feedback mechanisms, play a vital role. Engagement with English media and real-life English interactions also affect speaking skills. The study suggests cultural sensitivity, psychological support, improved learning environments, feedback mechanisms, media engagement, and increased real-world contacts to boost speaking proficiency in EFL learners.

Zoom as a Teaching Tool to Enhance Students' Listening and Speaking Skills: Teachers' and Students' Perceptions

IUBAT Review, 2024

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Extra-linguistic Factors Affecting Learner's English Speaking at the Tertiary Level in Bangladesh

UBAT Review, 2023

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Learners’ Engagement in the Online Classes at the University Level in Bangladesh

Shanlax International Journal of English

The growing pandemic situation has led the world’s education to the online platform where student... more The growing pandemic situation has led the world’s education to the online platform where students’ engagement has been the prime concern of educators, teachers, and researchers. This study aims to report the level of engagement in the online classes in addition to the feeling of the teachers and students towards it. Only a few studies on students’ engagement in the university-level online classes in Bangladesh have yet been conducted. To find the in-depth perfective result, this study has used a quantitative method where one hundred and thirty-eight participants including teachers and students took part in questionnaire surveys. The questionnaires were designed to study three types of engagements like participatory, performance, and skill engagements in virtual education at the level of higher study in Bangladesh. Through a quantitative analysis, our findings show that, though the students get themselves involved in online platforms, their level of engagement varies in terms of the...

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The Role of Oral Presentations in Developing Undergraduate Learners' Speaking Skills in Bangladesh

IUBAT Review

Developing speaking skills is considered an important goal for tertiary-level students in Banglad... more Developing speaking skills is considered an important goal for tertiary-level students in Bangladesh. Learning oral presentation techniques can lead learners to communicative competency, especially speaking competence. This paper explores the role of oral presentations in developing undergraduate EFL (English as a foreign language) learners' speaking skills in selected private universities in Bangladesh. The study followed a quantitative method and collected data from one hundred thirty-five EFL tertiary-level students. The findings show that oral presentations have positive impacts on learners' motivation and enhance their speaking skills. At the same time, the findings also indicate that there are a number of potential factors that hinder the learners' oral delivery which include their lack of motivation, limited vocabulary, anxiety, and fear. The study results have implications for instructional design and delivery at the tertiary level in Bangladesh as well as in oth...

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