How to speak English fluently?

yanggr · Post by **yanggr** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:58 am

I am very appeciated to receive one reply about improving oral ability. Thanks very much!

My students are freshmen in college. They have good mastery of grammar and listening. With oral ability, they can just express themselves in a slow way and sometimes the expression is not as desirable as that used in native language countries. Looking forward to your reply! thanks!

ZhangMin

tigertiger · Post by **tigertiger** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:59 pm

I assume from the name that you are possibly in China.

If correct your students will be good at reading and writing. I would be suprised at good listening skills, but then I am often suprised.

In oyu post you talk about two issues.

Fluency and accuracy.
Fluency is like a river. The rate at which wrods flow from your students mouths.
Accuracy is about correct use of grammar.

Students may be struck dumb if they feel that their English is not good enough to speak. Especially if face may be lost.
Find ways of just getting them to talk, without correction, may help.

Interview and report is one technique.
Pair work. Give them a series of questions on a topic. They must interview their partner, and report back to the class. At the begining I would give no corrections during these oral classes. Maybe none for 2-3 classes. Just them them get used to hearing thier own voices.

There are games like, simple Simon says.
In fact games would be a great way to take them out of learning mode, and allowing them to perform.
If they have come from schools where students have to have thier nose in a book, they may not be familiar with the idea of play. Especially if the are science undergraduates.

There is another forum on learning activites at the top of the main forums page. Take a look. If you are used to a very formal way of teaching you will find this a challenge, but you will also have fun.

Good luck.