Techniques

Speaking
 Problems and Solutions

Problem:

Students find language production difficult. They are

inhibited by lack of language.

Solutions:
match tasks with language level
make the students aware of the purpose to the task
 Problems and Solutions

students who are not used to speaking

spontaneously need to be helped to cultivate
such habits

teacher should not expect instant fluency and creativity;

instead they should build up students’ confidence ‘bit by

bit’ giving them restricted tasks before prompting them to
be more and more spontaneous later.
 Language
Students can be frustrated when they do not have the words or
grammar they need to express themselves.

Steps to help students achieve success:

Supply key language:

~ Check their knowledge of key vocabulary

~ Help with phrases or questions helpful for the task
 Language
Encourage students

eg a general question, a smile, a pause for

students to formulate their thoughts and to decide
what they wish to say and how they wish to say
it.

Do not pressurize students with questions.

 Topic

What if students are not interested in the topics?

 They are unlikely to invest their language production

with the same amount of effort as they would if they are
excited by the subject matter.
 Topic

In order to speak successfully……….

 It helps if we know what we are talking about.

 Yet students are sometimes expected to
speak about topics they have little knowledge
of.
 Choose Interesting Topics

If students with language limitations are asked to

work with topics that do not interest them and
without the necessary information

Result:

language production activities suffer

Choose Interesting Topics

Solutions:

 Choose interesting topics: use your instinct,

find out from students what their favorite
topics are through interviews, questionnairs
or observing the students.

 Conversation does not need to be about

serious matters.
 Create Interest in the Topic
Talk about the topic and communicate enthusiasm:

Students have a chance for quick discussions in

small groups before they are asked to speak in
public. They have the chance to think of ideas
and the language to express them
 Provide Necessary Information

When planning a speaking task, ask ourselves

which bits of information are essential for the tak
to be a success and then give that information to
our students before they start.
 Classroom Speaking Activities
 Acting from a script.

 Communication games: information gap,twenty

questions, call my bluff, fishbowl

 Discussion

 Debate
Classroom Speaking Activities
Prepared talks

Simulation and role-play: reality of function students

must not think of themselves as students but as real
participants in the situation

A simulated environment: airport check in area,

restaurant

Structure: students must be given the necessary to

carry out the simulation effectively.
 The Roles of the Teacher
Prompter:

students sometimes get lost:

 leave them to struggle out of such situation on

their own which is sometimes is the best option
Or

 teachers help them and the activity to progress

by giving suggestions : can stop the sense of
frustraion that some students feel when they
come to a ‘dead end’ of language and ideas.
 The Roles of the Teacher
Participant:

 At times teacher can also participate in discussions or role-

play themselves.

 In this way they can introduce new information to help

the activity along but be careful do not participate too much and
dominating.
 The Roles of the Teacher
Feedback provider:

 When students are in the middle of a speaking activity,

over correction may inhibit them on the other hand helpful
and gentle correction may get students out of difficult
misunderstandings and hesitations.

 When students have completed an activity it is vital that we

assess what they have done and what went well.