Due to the importance of fluency and accuracy in the speaking part of international exams such as TOEFL and IELTS, candidates need to be able to speak easily and without error to achieve a high score. However, most students demonstrate hesitation, grammatical inaccuracies, and low levels of fluency and accuracy when they sign up for exam preparation courses, which may lead to undesired exam results. To avoid this, a bridging course to fill the gap and enhance candidates’ fluency and accuracy before taking preparation classes or the exam seems essential. 

Zone Out is a bridging course that focuses on improving candidates’ fluency and accuracy using corrective feedback methods. It is a framework in which teachers are equipped with the tools and guidelines necessary to help students speak fluently, accurately, and without hesitation. The Zone Out approach encourages students to prepare and plan for class discussions before the class, engage in exciting debates on controversial topics during the class, and receive corrective feedback during and at the end of the class to improve their fluency and accuracy in a stress-free environment. 

The Zone Out approach works in three stages: active planning before the class, reaping the benefits of zoning out and speaking in a stress-free environment during the class, and receiving corrective feedback at the end of the class. By planning and preparing for class discussions, learners retrieve passive information from their long-term memory to express their opinion in class. Such preparation activates students’ passive linguistic knowledge and the complex grammar they have always known but never used in their speaking. During the class, teachers lead an exciting discussion to make sure students feel comfortable to speak and express their ideas, and finally, corrective feedback is provided at the end of the class to help students overcome their speaking errors and further enhance their speaking skills.