UNIT 8 SPEAKING

Speaking is a productive skill. It involves interaction and producing information to convey meaning. At the moment of speaking most of the time we don't plan what we are going to say, so our speech could be somewhat inaccurate. In addition, speaking has some subskills that allow us to express what we want to say and be understood by others. It is the use of grammar, vocabulary and functions, the use of an appropriate register, body language, connected speech, text types, eloquence, interactive strategies. Moreover, interactive strategies involves: nonverbal signs, turn-taking (the organization of a conversation to know who speaks first, second and so on), and paraphrasing. Furthermore, using the  appropriate register formal or informal is essential in order to  reach the purpose of a conversation; it is inform, argue, persuade, etc. Additionally, speaking has a variety of text types that include conversations, lectures, presentations, etc; that present different structures, register, vocabulary, etc.

Finally, for teaching a speaking lesson it is important to follow a process that involves pre, during and post-speaking. According to Richards (2016), we have to get students' attention in the pre-speaking stage by making them discuss about the topic of their interest and teach them some useful expressions they can use. Then, in the during-speaking stage the teacher conducts the speaking task by focusing on fluency. After that, in the post-speaking stage the teacher makes students reflect about what they have learned and the difficulties of the task and at the end the teacher provides feedback. Moreover, another activity for teaching speaking could be controlled practice activities. According to Musserotte (2017) in these kind of activities students repeat the new form of language many times, this stage is important because students can realize what they do well and what needs reinforcement.

Additional information to teach speaking:

References:

Richards, J. (2017). What are the stages of a speaking lesson?. (2014). Professor Jack C. Richards. Retrieved 22 April 2017, from http://www.professorjackrichards.com/stages-speaking-lesson/

Musserotte, C. (2015). What is Controlled Practice and what is Free Practice? | Teacher Locker. Teacher Locker. Retrieved 22 April 2017, from http://www.teacherlocker.com/what-is-controlled-practice-and-what-is-free-practice/

Kay, J. (2010). British Council - Teaching Speaking Techniques. YouTube. Retrieved 22 April 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF7zsz8fi64