Overcoming Fear of Speaking
According to the National English Curriculum 2020, language learning is facilitated when learners:
• have maximum exposure to the target language through encounters with a variety of spoken texts.
• are motivated and willing to invest time and effort.
• develop self-efficacy and confidence in using the language.
• increase and expand vocabulary size and depth.
• make the transition from receptive knowledge of vocabulary to productive use.
• have opportunities to use the target language meaningfully and purposefully.
• take responsibility for their own language learning.
Student Survey
Download a copy and print the survey for the students in English OR translated into L1. The teacher should read the questions while the students follow and tick their answers. If phones are allowed in class, the poll can be done with a digital tool.
Option 1: Frontal lesson.
Collect the results from the students and display them on the whiteboard in this powerpoint
Feelings About English - Student Survey
(Download a copy to your computer)
Promote a discussion, in L1, based on the results. Stress that you hope that learning English this year will help overcome any fear they may have by working together with them to become more comfortable speaking English.
Option 2 - Group work
After the students have filled out the survey, divide them into heterogeneous groups. Let each group compare their results and discuss. One member of the group can present what they have discussed to the whole class.