Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching English Speaking Skills

Many language learners express that speaking is their top priority, and it’s easy to see why. Mastering spoken English is crucial for traveling, succeeding at work, and forming connections. This focus on verbal communication has led to a common misconception where “speaking English” is often viewed as synonymous with “knowing English.”

While learners place a high value on speaking skills, many tutors struggle with how to effectively teach this area. Some see speaking lessons as a chance to engage in casual conversation, which can offer some benefits. However, students soon discover that this approach falls short of fostering significant improvement in their speaking abilities.

During our interviews with LingualNeeds students, many expressed a desire for greater structure in their speaking lessons. In this article, we’ll explore the key elements of effective speaking activities and provide you with a clear, step-by-step guide to designing and organizing speaking-focused lessons.

So, read on to discover how to deliver speaking lessons your students will love.

What makes a good spoken English activity?

Before diving into the step-by-step process of teaching spoken English, it’s important to understand the key elements that contribute to effective speaking activities. Let’s explore the essential components that can enhance these speaking-focused exercises.

Personalized & relevant

Tailoring your speaking activities to match your students’ age, interests, and learning objectives is essential. When learners recognize that they are practicing relevant skills they can use in real life, their motivation soars, leading to increased participation and engagement.

For instance, an individual studying English for professional reasons is likely to prioritize practicing introductions over discussing their favorite pets. Likewise, a 6-year-old, despite having advanced English skills, may find it challenging to engage in conversations about the current political scene.

Well structured

In speaking lessons, “structure” encompasses the elements that provide support to learners before and during the activity. You can enhance your speaking lessons by introducing new vocabulary, demonstrating how to answer questions, or starting with simpler tasks and gradually increasing the difficulty. This approach helps build confidence and skill in your students.

Every student thrives under a different level of lesson structure, which hinges on various factors such as their language proficiency, confidence, and the specific speaking skills being developed. For instance, a shy beginner often requires a highly structured approach to feel comfortable. Conversely, an advanced student gearing up for an exam may perform better with a more flexible format that mirrors the exam’s real-world unpredictability. Tailoring the structure to each student’s needs is key to effective learning.

Full of speaking

Effective speaking activities are all about maximizing student talking time (STT). The ideal amount of STT varies based on each student’s proficiency and confidence. For beginners, achieving 30% speaking time can be a significant milestone, while advanced learners may be expected to engage in conversation for up to 80% of the lesson.

Boosting student talking time can be achieved with some straightforward strategies. One of the most effective methods is to ask open-ended questions. For instance, instead of simply asking, “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” try, “Tell me about your family.” This type of question encourages more in-depth responses, resulting in greater student engagement and conversation.

Feedback

Feedback plays a crucial role in effective speaking activities. It allows you to address and clarify errors, suggest ways for your student to enhance their language skills, and boost their motivation by acknowledging their successes.

To truly grasp the significance of feedback, consider this scenario: you finish a gap-fill exercise with a student but skip discussing the answers afterward. While most tutors would never overlook this step, it’s surprisingly common with speaking activities. To enhance learning, always allocate ample time for constructive feedback.

Repetition

Repetition plays a vital role in learning a new language and is a key component of effective speaking activities. Picture this: your student has just responded to a question, and you’ve offered them constructive feedback along with some useful phrases. This is the ideal moment to revisit the exercise, allowing them to practice and apply the new language skills they’ve just learned.

Adaptability

This tip may be more practical than theoretical, but it’s a game-changer for busy tutors looking to streamline their lesson delivery. When designing your speaking activities, focus on creating flexible formats that can be easily adjusted. By crafting adaptable activities, you’ll save a significant amount of time by quickly tailoring them to suit various students and topics.

How to plan English speaking-focused lessons

Having explored the key elements of an effective speaking activity, let’s dive into how to design a comprehensive speaking-focused lesson. While there are various approaches to structuring a successful speaking lesson, we’ll focus on a straightforward and adaptable plan that can cater to students of all ages, levels, and learning objectives.

1. Lead-in

Kicking off your speaking lessons with a captivating lead-in is a fantastic way to introduce the topic and ignite your student’s curiosity. For instance, if your lesson focuses on dining at restaurants, start by engaging your student with some thought-provoking questions, such as:

• Do you enjoy eating out at restaurants?
• How often do you do it?
• Do you have any favorite restaurants or cuisines? Why do you like them?
• Have you ever encountered a problem at a restaurant? Did you complain?

2. Content preparation

To effectively prepare your learner for the main speaking task, encourage them to concentrate on the topic and tap into their background knowledge. One effective method to achieve this is through the use of images, which can spark their interest and enhance their understanding.

As we delve deeper into our lesson on dining at restaurants, consider sharing this image with your student. Engage them by asking thought-provoking questions to enhance their understanding and spark a lively discussion.

• Why do you think this man is complaining at the restaurant?
• What are some common reasons people complain in restaurants?

If the task is suitable for their level, your student will likely start incorporating relevant vocabulary and phrases related to the topic, setting a solid foundation for their upcoming speaking activity.

3. Language preparation (optional)

Following that, consider introducing your students to essential grammar, vocabulary, or practical language phrases that will aid them in their speaking tasks. While this stage isn’t necessary for every speaking lesson, it’s a fantastic opportunity to present new language concepts and boost the confidence of shy or low-level learners, ensuring they feel ready to participate.

Here’s an example of what a language preparation task could look like:

Get your student to put the following expressions on a scale from very impolite to very polite:

• Could I speak to the manager?
• This is absolutely unacceptable.
• Could you please bring me a clean plate?
• I demand a refund for my dinner.
• Etc.

Next, delve into the meaning of each sentence to confirm your student’s comprehension, while also taking time to focus on their structure and pronunciation. To enhance their skills further, brainstorm additional phrases they can use to express dissatisfaction with the food or service.

4. Speaking task

You’re now set to dive into the core speaking activity of your lesson. The specific task you choose will depend on your lesson’s theme, but it should always provide ample opportunity for your students to engage in conversation. Consider incorporating dynamic activities such as roleplays, debates, presentations, or interviews to encourage lively discussions and enhance their speaking skills.

In our lesson on dining out, consider organizing a roleplay where one student takes on the role of a dissatisfied customer and another acts as the waiter. This interactive exercise not only fosters communication skills but also enhances problem-solving in real-life situations. If feasible, record the interaction; this will be a valuable resource for the concluding part of the lesson, allowing students to reflect on their performance and improve.

5. Feedback

After a speaking activity, it’s essential to concentrate on two key types of constructive feedback. The first type centers on the content generated by your student. This feedback allows for a meaningful reflection on both your contributions and theirs, as well as the potential impact those discussions may have within the context of the activity.

To better illustrate this with our restaurant example, consider using these questions to both provide and gather feedback:

• How successful was this conversation?
• Do you think the customer would have received compensation?
• How polite was the waiter?

Next, take time to provide feedback on the student’s language, focusing on their expression and communication style. This is your chance to address any mistakes, enhance their language skills, and praise their strengths.

For instance, you can play a recording of a conversation and jot down both accurate and inaccurate phrases on the board. Encourage your student to identify which phrases are correct and which are not, and then collaboratively review the sentences together to reinforce their understanding.

6. Task repetition

If there’s still lesson time left, encourage your student to revisit the task, allowing them to apply the insights gained from the feedback session and enhance their skills. To keep the experience fresh and engaging, consider making slight modifications to the task. For instance, in the restaurant scenario, you could switch up the restaurant type or the nature of the customer’s complaint. This not only reinforces learning but also maintains interest!

Congratulations! You now have a versatile framework for a speaking lesson that can adapt to a wide range of topics, age groups, skill levels, and learning objectives!

Final note

Teaching English speaking is a crucial skill for any successful tutor, especially given its popularity among students. This article provides valuable tips and a step-by-step guide to help you create engaging speaking lessons that your students will truly enjoy. While these insights are a great foundation, remember that there are countless other methods to enhance your lessons. Continue to invest in your professional development to keep your teaching fresh and effective.

At LingualNeeds, we provide an extensive selection of free professional development courses, with a strong focus on enhancing your speaking skills. Join us as a tutor and unlock a wealth of resources while earning a living by teaching a global community of eager learners—all from the comfort of your own home!