Contributions of Digital Competencies toward the Speaking Skills in English Language Classes in Ecuadorian Elementary Schools

Digital competences are key factors for the professional developing of teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Ecuador. This work aims to identify the contributions of digital competences in the speaking skills of a group of elementary school children. In the research process, the sample was integrated for nine elementary school students and fifteen EFL teachers took. The methodology selected was a mixed. The research techniques used to collect data were semi-structured interviews, contextual observation, and English language pre-tests and post-tests. Results show the teacher's digital competencies evolution and its contribution to the children speaking skills. It concludes that teachers with a higher level of digital competencies can improve children speaking skills. Thus, the students speaking skills in this study changed from 5,02 overage in the pre-test to 8,64 points in the post-test. The changes in speaking skills are significatively positive.