Teaching Productive Skills to the Students: a secondary Level Scenario

 
 

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2.6 
Speaking 
"Speaking" is the delivery of language through mouth. To speak, we create 
sounds using many parts of our body, including the lungs, vocal tract, vocal chords, 
tongue, teeth and lips. 
This vocalized form of language usually requires at least one listener. When two 
or more people speak or talk to each other, the conversation is called a "dialogue". 
Speech can flow naturally from one person to another in the form of dialogue. It can 
also be planned and rehearsed, as in the delivery of a speech or presentation. Of 
course, some people talk to themselves! In fact, some English learners practice 
speaking standing alone in front of a mirror. Speaking can be formal or informal. 
a. 
Informal speaking is typically used with family and friends or people we know 
well. 
b. 
Formal speaking occurs in business or academic situations, or when meeting 
people for the first time. 
2.6.1 Speaking Skill 
Speaking is the productive skill in the oral mode. It, like the other skills, is more 
complicated than it seems at first and involves more than just pronouncing words. 
According to Chastain (1998), speaking is a productive skill that involves many 
components, such as grammar, strategy, sociolinguistics and discourse; for him 
speaking is more than simply making the right sounds, choosing the right words or 
getting the constructions correct (pp. 330-358). 
Speaking is probably the language skill that most language learners wish to 
perfect as soon as possible. Speaking is more frequently used than writing. The main 

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function of spoken language is to socialize individuals. On the contrary to writing, 
spoken language is produced and processed in real time, the speaker and hearer have 
limited time to plan and produce what they want to say and understand what they hear. 
Speech is generally used in face-to-face conversations; it is temporary, spontaneous 
and variable. Spoken language is supported by body language such as gestures or 
facial expressions (often called non-verbal communication). 
We teach speaking as learners consider this particular skill as one of the most 
important and also the most challenging skills. Speaking communication is the most 
common way of building interpersonal relations. Furthermore, speaking is important if 
we want to get things done, find out information and give instructions.