EFFECTIVE SPEAKING

As English teachers, we have a special responsibility to create a language environment within which our students can develop effective and creative oral communication skills. Effective Speaking frames an approach which integrates a range of language strands to explore aspects of the structure and development of oral language. Physiology, phonetics, pronunciation and language origins are among those areas covered as well as more active skills involved in storytelling and the gathering of oral history. Student activity pages are linked to the more detailed teacher information which introduces the topic of each section. Ideas for student extension as well as for further teacher research are included. All activities can be used to support oral work in current English programs with many new directions suggested. Students are encouraged to express their own responses and thoughts about oral language as well as to develop skills, knowledge and strategies for evaluating their own speaking.