Teaching Speaking
Basic Key Concepts
Starter Question: What is speaking?
Speaking is a productive skill, like writing. It involves using speech to to express meaning to other people.
Of all skills, speaking seems most important. To know a language is to be a ‘speaker’ of that language.
Starter Question: What is speaking?
Speaking is a productive skill, like writing. It involves using speech to express meaning to other people.
Of all skills, speaking seems most important. To know a language is to be a ‘speaker’ of that language.
Starter Question: What is speaking?
Speaking is a productive skill, like writing. It involves using speech to express meaning to other people.
Of all skills, speaking seems most important. To know a language is to be a ‘speaker’ of that language.
Starter Question: What is speaking?
Speaking is a productive skill, like writing. It involves using speech to to express meaning to other people.
Of all skills, speaking seems most important. To know a language is to be a ‘speaker’ of that language.
Key Concepts: Things we do when we speak...
Producing sound
Minimal pairs in English
Of all skills, speaking seems most important. To know a language is to be a ‘speaker’ of that language.
Producing sound
Connected words in English
Of all skills, speaking seems most important. To know a language is to be a ‘speaker’ of that language.
Key Concepts: Things we do when we speak...
Producing sound
Word Stress in English
Of all skills, speaking seems most important. To know a language is to be a ‘speaker’ of that language.
Key Concepts: Interaction
Interaction = two-way communication that involves using language and body language to keep our listener involved in what we’re saying and check that she/he understands our meaning.
Key Concepts: Interaction
Interactive strategies:
Key Concepts: Interaction
Interactive strategies:
Key Concepts: Interaction
Interactive strategies:
Key Concepts: Interaction
Interactive strategies:
(‘Do you understand?’)
Key Concepts: Interaction
Interactive strategies:
(‘I mean...’, ‘What I’m trying to say is...’)
Key Concepts: Interaction
Interactive strategies:
(‘Mmmm..’, ‘Right...’)
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
We can develop learners’ speaking skills by focusing regularly on:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
We can develop learners’ speaking skills by focusing regularly on:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
We can develop learners’ speaking skills by focusing regularly on:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
We can develop learners’ speaking skills by focusing regularly on:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
We can develop learners’ speaking skills by focusing regularly on:
Key Concepts: Fluency and Accuracy
Fluency = speaking at a normal speed, without hesitation, repetition or self-correction, with smooth, connected speech
Key Concepts: Fluency and Accuracy
Fluency = speaking at a normal speed, without hesitation, repetition or self-correction, with smooth, connected speech
Accuracy = speaking with correct forms of grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation
Key Concepts: Things we do when we speak...
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
In many classes learners do controlled practice activities:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
In many classes learners do controlled practice activities:
This is a very limited kind of speaking:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Tasks and less controlled practice activities give more opportunity than controlled activities for learners to practice communication, interaction and fluency.
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Sometimes learners speak more willingly in class when they have a reason for communicating:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Because speaking is a complex skill, learners often need help to prepare for speaking:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Because speaking is a complex skill, learners often need help to prepare for speaking:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Because speaking is a complex skill, learners often need help to prepare for speaking:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Because speaking is a complex skill, learners often need help to prepare for speaking:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Because speaking is a complex skill, learners often need help to prepare for speaking:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Because speaking is a complex skill, learners often need help to prepare for speaking:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Learners, especially beginners and children, need time to take in and process all new language they hear before they produce it in speaking.
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Activities in a speaking lesson often follow this pattern:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Activities in a speaking lesson often follow this pattern:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Activities in a speaking lesson often follow this pattern:
Key concepts and the language teaching classroom
Activities in a speaking lesson often follow this pattern:
Follow-up Activities
1. The titles of some materials on teaching speaking are numbered 1-10 below and on your worksheet. Match the titles with the aspects of speaking (A-E) that they focus on. Some titles focus on more than one aspect.
Reflection on Speaking
Think about these questions...
Teaching Speaking
Thank you!