In order to improve the academic skills of EFL (English as a foreign language) learners, due attention should be paid to teaching the exquisite principles of mind maps to put it into practice. Mind maps help facilitate mastery of contents such as logical grasping, integrating, systematizing and simplifying.
By using mind maps, they can facilitate their thinking and easily elaborate and present information. This is the process of understanding the contents of complicated system or structure, and at the same time, the process of learning the underlying principles. While preparing a presentation, they may encounter many difficulties in organizing the structure of summarized speech, which can be solved by using mind maps. By applying mind maps to presentation, they can acquire scientific research, problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. And they will also be well versed in correct formality and usage of academic speech, and correct mode and viewpoint of thinking such as logical development, demonstration, criticism and argument.
Kim Hye Won, a researcher at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, conducted an experimental research on the possibility of improving the EFL learners’ language skills and thinking abilities by applying mind mapping in the course of preparing and performing presentations, and proved its effectiveness.
She introduced the quasi-experimental design to two classes under study. She collected and analyzed data through tests and questionnaires to find out if there is any improvement. She found out that there was a remarkable difference between the two classes.
In conclusion, the results of her study show that mind maps are influential in improving EFL learners’ presentation abilities, i.e. language skills and thinking abilities.