towards speaking fluency
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Tips and strategies to improve your English speaking skills.TRANSCRIPT
Towards Speaking Fluency
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Make a list of the areas where you need to have speaking fluency. Possible answers: a) Your degree subject. Do you need
to be fluent in the theories and concepts that are important in your subject area?
b) Clubs or societies. Are you responsible for addressing other students in English?
What other answers do you have?
Task 1:
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Now make a list of situations where you need to show fluency in your degree and what you need to be fluent in.
Possible answers: a) Formal class presentations (Are
you assessed on fluency?)b) Group discussions: If you are fluent
in the subject area being discussed, you are a useful resource to your group.
Task 2:
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Are there any other reasons why you would like to be fluent in English?
Task 3:
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Speaking Skills MapWhat do you have most problems with?
• This is much more self reflective and you evaluate your language – you pay more attention to how you say things rather than your message.
There is a difference between when you speak and when you practise speaking.
NB. Speaking vs. Speaking Practice
• The important thing is how effectively the other person understands you – your message is important.
Speaking
Speaking Practice
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Speaking practice occurs when you actively focus on the quality of your speaking.
Remember:
Successful Speaking Practice
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You can only work on one element at a time.
Making mistakes is an important part of learning.
Be as aware of what you do well as what you have problems with.
It takes time to improve. Be patient.
FAQ: ‘But how do I practice without a teacher?’
Remember, most of the time you will not have a teacher with you when you talk.
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Have an ‘English Hour’ in your dorm
Form a speaking group
with some friends
Speak to international
students when the opportunity
arises
Record yourself talking and
listen to yourself
Take every chance you can
to speak English e.g. before class
Watch a scene from a film and discuss it in the
AV Suite
Read a transcript out
loud and compare it to the original
Accept feedback from
your peers
Try to avoid translation as
much as possible
Talk with the SAC tutors Think in English
Discuss something in
the news
There are a lot of resources in the SAC to help with pronunciation.
Speaking Practice Activities: Pronunciation
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There are a lot of resources in the SAC to help with pronunciation.
However, whatever resources you use, the principle remains the same.
Speaking Practice Activities: Pronunciation
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Listen to yourself
Identify problem sounds
Listen to good
models
Adapt to the
model
Listen to yourself
Look at the following dialogue.
Speaking Practice Activities: Pronunciation
A: Where were you last night?B: Out.A: Where did you go?B: To the cinema.A: Who with?B: A friend.
Who is talking?Father and
teenage daughter
Classmates
Husband and wife
Boss and employee
Practice the dialogue as the different people. How does it change how you say it? CELE Guided Independent Learning
There are three steps to improving your vocabulary.
Speaking Practice Activities: Vocabulary
F L UFind it Learn it Use it
Read & listen
Discover vocabulary in
context
Make note of useful vocabulary
Learn aspects of the word e.g.
collocation and form
Put vocabulary in your own contexts
Don’t just rely on your core
vocabulary
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Use the vocabulary whenever you can
Speaking Practice: Vocabulary
Remember, having a good vocabulary does not mean using complex vocabulary, but using the vocabulary you have appropriately.
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Think about how you interact in your own language. Do you interact in the same way in English? How do you do these things in English?
Speaking Practice Activities: Interaction
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Interrupt someone
Clarify what you
mean
Ask for clarificati
on
Emphasise your point
The purpose of speaking is to communicate with other people.
For part of your speaking practice, you could forget self correction and concentrate on getting your message across.
Speaking Practice Activities: Fluency
The following activities are adapted from Klippel, F. Keep Talking
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Priorities: Why do people go to University? Rank the reasons from 1 (most important) to 8 (least important).
Speaking Practice Activities: Fluency
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To acquire knowledge
To prepare for a job
To meet other young
people
To train their
memory
To test their intelligence
To make their
parents happy
To become independen
t
To have a good time
What would you rather be, and why?
Speaking Practice Activities: Fluency
Man WomanChicken EggGlass WoodHammer NailSoft Hard
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What would you rather be, and why?
Speaking Practice Activities: Fluency
Man WomanChicken EggGlass WoodHammer Nail
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What would you rather be, and why?
Speaking Practice Activities: Fluency
Man WomanChicken EggGlass Wood
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What would you rather be, and why?
Speaking Practice Activities: Fluency
Man WomanChicken Egg
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What would you rather be, and why?
Speaking Practice Activities: Fluency
Man Woman
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What should I do about mistakes?
1st – You will always make
mistakes.
2nd – Everybody makes mistakes.
3rd – Mistakes are a positive part of
the learning process.
4th – The key question is, “Do people clearly understand my
meaning?”5th – Whatever stops people
understanding you is the problem.
6th – Do something about the mistakes that interfere with effective communication.CELE Guided Independent Learning
Do you know what resources are available to help you improve your speaking?
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Level - Elementary to Intermediate
A teachers book but contains photocopiable pages for students
Fun games and activities
Books to look for in the SAC
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Level: Advanced Practical self-
help course Helps advanced
students to speak confidently
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Books in look for the SAC
Features: Section on
effective use of eye contact, posture, gestures, and voice
Various types of presentation -- from impromptu to persuasive
Pronunciation and listening tips
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Books in look for the SAC
Chapters on how to access and use different media, including the Internet for research and PowerPoint for visual aids
New interactive, communicative activities and exercises
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Books in look for the SAC
Level: Advanced Contains 23 units For pairs or groups One example
question from the book is; “If you had a million dollars what would you do?”
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Books to look for in the SAC
Level: Advanced The CD provides a
wide range of native speaker accents
Encourages lively, discussion among advanced level students
Consists of 26 topic-based units on common themes
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Available at the main desk
Level: Elementary to Upper Intermediate
Contains 18 familiar topics but presented in a refreshing way!
Includes negotiating, persuading, expressing opinion and requesting information
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2 hour loan from circulation desk
Level: Elementary to Advanced
Contains drama activities to build confidence and fluency
Pick the activity you like and practice
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Books in the SAC
1) Use the resources and advice you can get in the SAC and from the Academic Support Clinic in SSB 118.
2) You should first be clear about what area you want to be fluent in so you can focus on that area.
3) There are a number of different strategies to help you achieve fluency. Choose the ones that suit you best.
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Final words
Thank you.
Any questions or
comments?
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