Strategies used to develop

oral communication skill

at ESL students
Blidari Elena
English language teacher ,
High-school Alexei Mateevici,
Cu eni

Problems students encounter
while trying to speak English

Students are trying to translate from their native

language into English.

Production "blocking" is occurring due to

nervousness, lack of confidence, etc.

The speaker is looking for a specific word, rather

than using simple language to describe what is
meant.

There aren't enough conversation opportunities in or

outside of class.

Students aren't able to speak to peers for e!ample"

classes of mi!ed levels students #.

Speaking Strategies
The first rule of improving speaking skills is
to speak,
converse,
talk,
gab
as much as you can!

Teaching oral language activities
include:

information gap activities where learners have to

exchange information in order to complete a task

opinion gap activities where learners share and

discuss their own personal feelings, attitudes or
preferences about ideas or topics

mime and role-play

general communicative activities (eg games, group

work, songs)

everyday classroom interactions

Speaking Activities
Use picture prompts !epending on the variety of visual
resources and class level and ability, a teacher can brainstorm
with the class a variety of sentences, (key) words, and
phrases around a particular category or situational context
that is the building block for a presentation
Labelling

wake up
$ary%wake up%& am every day

brush teeth
Pat%brush teeth%after breakfast every morning

$egan%brush hair %every day
brush hair

Picture Descriptions
'ind a large maga(ine photo or te!tbook
illustration that shows a specific settingand
several people engaged in one or a variety
of activities. Show the picture to the entire
class )uestions related to the picture. Elicit
responses from learners.

Who are the people?
What are they doing?
What season is it?
What is their mood ?
What do they feel?

Model Dialogues
*ave learners practice the model
dialogue in pairs. +f appropriate,
pairs can perform the dialogue
for the class. ,einforce the model
dialogue through written
homework or in-class role
play,etc.

Asking for directions
- Excuse me. I am a little lost. Can you help me?
- f course I can.
- !oes this town ha"e a post office?
- #es$ it does.
- Where is the post office?
- It is straight ahead$ on the right$ across from
the park.
- %hank you.
Write a dialog. &sk your partner about other
location. Present it in front of the class.

Have you ever...?
"reate a #$ave %ou &ver'# search paper by dividing a
piece of white paper into () e*ual s*uares+ !raw four
columns down and four rows across the sheet of paper
,t the bottom of each s*uare write something that at
least one student in the class may have experienced or a
*uality at least one student may have, such as #broken a
bone,# #loves pi--a,# #speaks two languages,# #has been
on an airplane,# or #good dancer# .hotocopy one copy
of the search paper for each student

travelled by
plane
eaten oysters driven a car swum in an
ocean
climbed a
mountain
written to a star met a Japanese stolen coins
from your
parents
played chess read Romeo
and Julliette
seen a theatre
play
gone to an
opera theatre
played the
guitar
left home for a
fortnight
travelled more
than 1000 km
driven at 120kph
Have you ever...?

Conclusion
To make your students speak"

'orget the errors. /ust be happy that they0re

speaking

1ive them easy topics that they know a lot

about... Them2

Provide the cues, give them the ideas

+f the cues fail, give an outline

Take them for a walk on the wild side, outside

their comfort (one

3isten to the real deal

Smile, be patient, and smile

again2

Bibliography:
Using Creative Strategies to Promote Students Speaking Skills, Mona Khameis
http"%%teaching.monster.com
peci!ic sites !or"
#$ %all tal&"
http"%%esl.about.com%od%conversationlessonplans%a%lesson4smtalk.htm
http"%%www.eslflow.com%Sociali(ingandmakingsmalltalk.html
http"%%www.eastsideliteracy.org%tutorsupport%5ork%5ork4Talk.htm
'$ (ole-plays"
http"%%www.pearsonlongman.com%adult%teachers%resources-archive%life-wlength.html
http"%%www.hltmag.co.uk%may67%sart8.htm
http"%%www.eslflow.com%roleplaysdramatheatregames.html
)$ *oints o! vie+"
http"%%www.eslflow.com%Tourismlessons.html
http"%%www.eslflow.com%speakingandcommunicativeicebreakeractivities.html
http"%%stormy.blogs.com%global%

/ Debating on different topic discussions:
http+00wwweslflowcom0debateanddiscussionlessonshtml
wwweducationscom0tourism
http+00wwwstgeorgefreeserverscom0guide1debatehtm
5. Practising group decision making activities:
http+00wwwabaconcom0commstudies0groups0decisionhtml
http+00wwwtime-management-guidecom0decision-making-skillshtml
http+00wwwvirtualsaltcom0crebook2htm