UNIT 8 SPEAKING

What is Speaking?

Speaking is one of the productive skills which involves producing language using speech to communicate meanings to others. This skill has several subskills, such as making use of register, using features of connected speech and producing different text types. Also, within these subskills we find the one which requires the use of interactive strategies, as body language, funtions and turn-taking. Speaking also implies concepts such as fluency, accuracy and appropriacy which are necessary in communication. Moreover, as the others skills, there are diverse text types to consider classified according to their different features (level of formality, different structures and vocabulary). Therefore, speaking is a really complex skill. Using this knowledge to teach, I can say that it is not a good idea to incorporate some subskills in only one lesson because students can feel frustrated and get confused. In addition, I can use two kind of speaking activities in my class: fluency and accuracy activities.

References: 

• Spratt, M., Pulverness, A., & Williams, M. (2011). The TKT course. Ernst Klett Sprachen.The TKT course. Module 1,2,3

• RealLife English (2014). How Natives Cut and Connect Their Words in English: Connected Speech in the Simple Past [Video]. Avaliable from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaCRpnW8Q2U

• British Council (2010). British Council - Teaching Speaking Techniques (John Kay) [Video]. Avaliable from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF7zsz8fi64