The phenomenon of language learning
involves comprehension of four skills i.e., speaking and writing as productive
skills whereas listening and reading as receptive ones. Here we concerned with
the description of speaking skill about which Fries says;
“Speech is the most important aim in
language teaching."
TYPES OF SPEAKING
1- Formal Speech
Formal speech is used in academic,
ceremonial and business settings. It is always well-structured and follows
strict grammatical rules. It avoids personal pronouns (I, we), slang and
contractions (can’t and won’t). Fluency, accuracy and intelligibility are the main
characteristics of formal speech.
2- Informal Speech
This type of speech is used with
friends and family members. Daily conversational style is adopted using slangs
and contractions. Very casual and relaxed language is used to express thoughts
and fun.
SPEAKING STYLES
Style of conversation is chosen
according to the content and occasion. Jose, in his ‘Five Clocks’, has
presented five different styles or levels of speaking.
1- Intimate Style
This is the most informal style of
conversation opted by the closest friends or the family members who make use of
code words, jargons or nick names to share their ideas or jokes.
2- Consultive Style
This is a semi-formal (bridging the
gap between formal speeches and casual chats) style of speaking. This is a
two-way communication with strangers e.g., doctors, teachers, boss or
seniors to ask questions and offering feedback with a focus on shared
understanding.
3- Casual Style
This style is opted in sudden
situations particularly when attending a telephone or a knocker at the door.
This style is characterized by shorter sentences, slangs and contractions.
4- Formal Style
This is a well-planned, polished and
respectful style of communication used in conversation with professionals,
academia or officials. More emphasis is laid on proper grammar, precise
vocabulary and full-length sentences.
5- Frozen Style
This is highly mannered and
sophisticated style often used in conversation with kings and emperors in
courts. This style demands a humble way of speaking though the speaker has to
complain against the interlocuter.
STAGES OF SPEAKING SKILL
1- Presentation Stage
This is the primary stage where new
language is presented (introduced) to the learners. The teacher speaks
in new language and gets the learners involve in listening. The learners keep listening
passively. Occasionally, the teacher asks fragmentary questions to test whether
the learners are listening with understanding.
2- Practice Stage
At this stage, the learners are
encouraged to speak. Key activities include role plays, information gaps and group
discussions to build confidence and fluency with a prime focus on oral
production.
3- Production Stage
The function of this stage is to turn
the thoughts of learners into spoken words, phrases and sentences through the
process of conceptualization (forming the idea), formulation (choosing
words and grammar) and articulation (sound production). The learners
are prompted to think in the target language and express the ideas in new
language.
TECHNIQUES FOR TEACHING SPEAKING SKILL
1- Class Management
The learners should be divided into
pairs or groups so that everyone may get maximum chance of speaking the target
language.
2- Information Gap
Information gap means that each of
the two conversation partners does not have the information which his other
partner keeps. For example, a learner may ask his partner to tell why he was
absent the last day. This adds charm in the discussion and the learners show
better involvement.
3- Dialogue, Jokes and Role Play
The teacher can assign different
roles to the learners with a set of dialogues. The learners cram it and
reproduce the given dialogues. Later on, they may be asked to produce real time
dialogues. The teacher may also ask them to tell jokes to make the learning
activities more interesting.
4- Chain Story Activity
At advance level, chain story
exercises may be very useful in the classrooms. In this activity, the teacher
begins a story by making a statement and the learners, turn by turn, supply
sentences to complete the story.
5- Presentations
The teacher may ask the learners to prepare a presentation on an assigned topic. The learner gathers relevant information and delivers the presentation. The rest of class listen carefully and raise questions. This practice demands more confident learners with sufficient speech competency.
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