UO SSLP Resources

Speaking Skills

Speaking is one of the first things that comes to mind when we think of learning a language. Trying to speak in an L2 (or trying to produce signs for Sign languages) can be daunting, especially since we are simultaneously juggling both receptive and productive skills in interpersonal mode. With this being said, we have to remember that effective communication doesn’t need to be “pure”. Rather, it just has to get meaning across. So how do we do that? Browse through this page to dive into more ways to practice speaking or signing, why they work, and how we can use them.

- Excerpt from Chapter 7 of "Learning How to Learn Languages" by Logan Fisher, Abhay Pawar, Bibi Halima, & Keri Yerian

What is Interpersonal Speaking?

Interpersonal speaking is when people talk to each other in real time. They share ideas, ask questions, and respond to one another. It is a two-way interaction where speakers help each other understand and keep the conversation going.

Key Characteristics of Interpersonal Speaking:

Two-Way Interaction: Interpersonal speaking involves active, spontaneous communication between two or more people, with the ability to clarify, negotiate meaning, and provide immediate feedback.
Proficiency levels for interpersonal speaking range from Novice to Distinguished
Language Functions

Novice: Can ask and answer simple questions, express basic needs

Intermediate: Can maintain simple conversations, describe, and give directions

Advanced: Can explain, compare, and deal with unexpected situations

Context and Content

Ranges from highly familiar topics at lower levels to abstract and specialized subjects at higher levels

Ability to discuss personal, general, and professional topics increases with proficiency

Accuracy and Comprehensibility

Novice and Intermediate speakers may have errors that interfere with communication

Advanced and above speakers have sufficient control to be readily understood by native speakers

Cultural Competence

Grows from basic cultural awareness at lower levels to deep cultural understanding at higher levels

Includes appropriate use of gestures, turn-taking, and other culturally specific communication norms

Strategies: Speakers use various strategies to maintain communication, such as circumlocution, asking for clarification, using context clues, and paraphrasing.

What is Presentational Speaking?

Presentational Speaking is one the core communication modes as defined by ACTFL. The general characteristics of presentational mode of communication (speaking or writing) are that:

It is a one-way communication intended for an audience of readers, listeners, or viewers
It is presentation of information; not an exchange
There is no direct opportunity for the active negotiation of meaning
To ensure the intended audience is successful in its interpretation, the “presenter” needs knowledge of the audience’s language and culture
It can be delivered in the forms of signing, speaking (telling a story, giving a speech, TV or radio news, drama presentations including skits, presentation to jury, etc.) or writing (messages, articles, advertisements, flyers, brochures, short stories, reports, scripts, PowerPoint presentations)

"Learning How to Learn Languages" - Speaking

Chapter 7 of "Learning How to Learn Languages" is about speaking and signing, so it fouses on the presentational mode (productive skills) instead of the interpretive mode (receptive skills). The principles in this chapter will help you do things like give speeches or tell stories in the case of presentational skills, and also how to maintain the flow of interaction in real-life conversations in the case of interpersonal skills.

Read Chapter 7: Speaking or Signing Skills here:

Learning How to Learn Languages

Created by Keli Yerian, Bibi Halima, Faith Adler, Logan Fisher, Cameron Keaton, Addy Orsi, and Abhay Pawar

Speaking Strategies Quick Reference Guide

Looking for quick ideas to strengthen speaking skills? Refer to this guide for strategies you can use when taking part in conversations or presenting in the target language.

INTERPERSONAL SPEAKING

More About Interpersonal Speaking

Interpersonal communication is an exchange that takes place between two (or more) people spontaneously (1). It can happen in written form with less of a spontaneity. When you speak, even if you know what the general topic of your conversation is, you can’t always predict what the other person will say. You need to listen actively, paying attention to not only words and their meanings but also to the tone of the voice and other non-verbal cues to determine whether you are successfully negotiating meaning, i.e. communicating your message and interpreting your interlocutors as intended. This also means you need to know when and where to interrupt the other person, ask clarifying questions and find ways of continuing the exchange or bring it to a completion in culturally appropriate ways.

We can summarize the general characteristics of interpersonal mode of communication (speaking or writing) as follows:

Active negotiation of meaning among individuals
Participants observe and monitor one another to see how their meanings and intentions are being communicated
Adjustments and clarifications are made accordingly
Speaking and listening (conversation); reading and writing (text messages or via social media)

Keeping these characteristics in mind and as a way to also help you prepare for your interpersonal speaking tasks, it will help you to reflect on your interpersonal speaking skills and write down some of the strategies you have been using so far by answering the following questions. After you are done, you can compare your answers with the suggested strategies and apply them in your interpersonal speaking tasks going forward.

What are the communicative characteristics you notice when you speak in your dominant language with your friends, interact with others verbally in general? Think about cues, pitch of voice, intonation, pauses, filler words, facial expressions, etc. and give some examples.
How do these characteristics change when you talk to people in different situations? Think about talking with a close friend, a family member, the waiter in a restaurant, employee, professor, etc. and give examples.
What kind of interpersonal speaking assignments have you been doing in your language class(es) and other classes, if applicable? Include information about topics, length, i.e. if there is a minimum amount of time you were asked to speak, etc.
What strategies did/do you use to prepare for your interpersonal speaking assignments? Do you pay attention to the qualities/characteristics you mentioned in your answers for questions 1 and 2?
What is most fun and most challenging about these assignments? Is there one that made you very proud? Why?
Take this survey on speaking strategies and write down three or four of strategies you use regularly. What are other three or four you would like to try and why?
Take this quiz to get an estimate of your proficiency level for presentational speaking using the ACTFL Can-Do Statements and this one for interpersonal communication. What is your quiz result? Do you agree with it? What could your next S.M.A.R.T. goals be based on these quizzes?

After you answer these questions for yourself, you can use the following strategies to enhance your speaking skills.

Resources:

Interpersonal Communication in the Foreign Language Classroom

ACTFL Performance Descriptors

Sound Familiarization and Practice

Work with models, i.e. watch and listen to original content (movies, tv shows, interviews, ads, textbook conversations, etc.)
Pay attention to the use of language including emphasis, pauses, and pronunciation of certain sounds
Notice the intonation--rise and fall-- of expert speakers when talking
When you practice with your partner, repeat sounds in the target language that are distinct from the L1 until you are comfortable with them
Use online dictionaries to hear how native speakers pronounce words and imitate the pronunciation you hear (https://forvo.com/ is a useful site for this)

Courtesy of Stephanie Knight, Assistant Director of CASLS (Center for Applied Second Language Studies) with some additions from your program coordinator Harinder Khalsa. Reference: 2002, Cohen, Oxford, and Chi Language Strategy Use Survey

Pre-Conversation Preparation

Prepare for the conversation by familiarizing yourself with the topic
Prepare several familiar topics to discuss
Seek out opportunities to talk with expert speakers and initiate conversations or listen to them talking about these topics
Try to figure out and practice the language patterns of expert speakers when requesting, apologizing, or complaining

During Conversation

Try to predict what the other person is going to say based on what has already been said.
Try to understand what the other person is saying without translating word-for-word in your head
Focus on the context of what is being said
Listen for specific details that you can elaborate on or respond to, and ask questions
Ask the speaker to slow down or repeat themselves if you don’t understand
Use gestures to get your meaning across
Ask clarifying questions
Try to model expert speakers’ language patterns
Ignore information that you don’t need
Listen for key words that give you the information you need

After Conversation

Encourage others to correct errors in your speaking
Reflect on how you think the conversation went and think of one or two things to improve on next time
Try restating your partner’s message in your own words to verify comprehension

More Speaking Strategies from Various Websites

PRESENTATIONAL SPEAKING

Sound Practice

Repeat sounds in the target language that are distinct from the L1 until you are comfortable with them
Use online dictionaries to hear how native speakers pronounce words and imitate the pronunciation you hear
Listen to songs and sing along
Watch movies, tv shows, news. Pick a segment and try to imitate/act out paying attention not only to the pronunciation of words but also to intonation, pauses, filler words to make your own speech flow as naturally as possible
Ask an expert speaker for help with difficult sounds
Memorize short texts and practice saying them for a friend or record yourself. Your voice recording can guide you about what to focus on and practice more of.

Courtesy of Stephanie Knight, Assistant Director of CASLS (Center for Applied Second Language Studies) Reference: 2002, Cohen, Oxford, and Chi Language Strategy Use Survey

Pre-speaking Preparation

Know your audience and decide what will be the best way to deliver your speech to that audience
Outline your speech
Research your topic (include some unfamiliar related topics)
Review the words and expressions related to the topic and look up ones you will need but may not yet know (semantic maps can help you organize your thoughts too)
Practice new grammatical structures you want to use in a variety of situations before using them in a presentation to increase confidence
Practice saying unfamiliar expressions using newly learned grammatical structures to yourself
Practice tone of your speech (soft/loud, monotone-using inflections, natural flow of language)
Practice delivering it to a group of peers ahead of time or record yourself
Memorize your speech? This can create some anxiety if you end up not remembering exactly what you wrote. Another strategy could be to repeat it enough times, know exactly what you want to say and speak more freely when you present your speech. This still needs practice so you can keep your presentation within the time limits you are given (3-5 min, 5-7 min, 8-10 min)

Courtesy of Stephanie Knight, Assistant Director of CASLS (Center for Applied Second Language Studies) Reference: 2002, Cohen, Oxford, and Chi Language Strategy Use Survey

During Speaking

Know your audience and decide what will be the best way to deliver your speech to that audience
Outline your speech
Greet your audience in a culturally appropriate way, always maintain eye contact with different people (do not look at your teacher for approval)
State briefly what you will talk about
Try to use idiomatic expressions, pay attention to intonation and the natural flow of the language
Use gestures to get your meaning across
Try to model expert speakers’ language patterns, inflection and gestures. A good source might be the TED talks you can find in different languages on Youtube.

Courtesy of Stephanie Knight, Assistant Director of CASLS (Center for Applied Second Language Studies) Reference: 2002, Cohen, Oxford, and Chi Language Strategy Use Survey

After Speaking

Encourage others to correct your errors
Reflect on what you said: are their different or better ways to express the same idea?
Ask others if they have any clarifying questions for you
Ask trusted friends for feedback on how your presentation went

Courtesy of Stephanie Knight, Assistant Director of CASLS (Center for Applied Second Language Studies) Reference: 2002, Cohen, Oxford, and Chi Language Strategy Use Survey

CASLS Speaking Strategies Videos

The Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) at the University of Oregon is one of sixteen Title VI National Foreign Language Resource Centers across the United States. They develop reaserch-based curricula, professional development resources, and assessments to support innivative world language teaching and learning. Below are some of their educational videos that feature various speaking strategies that you can use to strengthen your speaking skills. Visit the CASLS Youtube page for more videos.

Use Context to Guess Meaning

Get Input on Pronunciation

Circumlocution Games

Isolating Difficult Parts of Words to Practice Pronunciation

ChatGPT Can Be Your Conversation Partner

Pay Attention to Pauses

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