The document outlines a module designed to enhance speaking skills in English for elementary learners, focusing on fluency, vocabulary, and interaction in various contexts. It emphasizes the foundational importance of speaking alongside other language skills, and addresses challenges such as limited exposure and the difficulty of using English outside the classroom. Various pedagogical strategies, including role play and discussion, are suggested to aid in the acquisition of oral communication skills, with references to theories of language learning and development.

1. ● MODULE
SPEAKING SKILL in English at Elementary level
Prepared by REYAZ AHMED RATHER teacher zone Hardapanzoo.
OBJECTIVE:To enable the learners understand the nuances of SPEAKING SKILL in English
.
Learning outcome of the module:
● After the completion of the module learners will be able to improve their speaking
skill.
● Learners will be able to increase their fluency,active vocabulary and ability to interact
in formal as well as informal situations.
Pedagogical approach: Collaborative approach
INTRODUCTION OF THE MODULE.
The issue regarding the command of English
among the students has been raised and discussed very frequently . One of the reasons is
the weak foundation laid at the elementary level. The module focuses on the nuances of
developing the speaking skill at the initial stage among pupils.Although the focus is on the
speaking skill, the other language skills ))( listening , reading and writing) can't be ignored as
they are complementary to each other in the process of language learning.
IN TO THE MODULE
If you can’t communicate and talk to other people and get across your ideas, you’re giving
up your potential.”
– Warren Buffet
The history of the word speak contains many of the ideas about the speech that you will
encounter in your life. Though Latin speak related to sow ,meaning to scatter seeds for
planting.A speaker also sow words and ideas.
As English serves the purpose of international communication,most of the foreign learners
try to acquire it.In this process they have to acquire all the basic four skills of language Viz:
listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Speaking skill or oral or communicative skill is one of the foundational skills of language
learning which needs to be taken care of right from the beginning.This skill goes hand in
hand with listening skill .These skills are to be worked on before proceeding to reading and
writing skills.
Teaching English as a second language to beginners is full of challenges. What is more
challenging is teaching the language to very young learners whose command of the first
language is still very tender. A more daunting task is to enable them to use the language
orally and also in writing.
Since the English language is taught only as a subject in school, exposure to the language
for many children is very limited. The low proficiency exhibited by many students in

2. secondary schools and in some cases at the tertiary level may be caused by the weak
development of the language at the
primary school level. Speaking is the most important skill among the four language skills
(listening speaking, reading
and writing) .
However, the speaking skill seems to be problematic for many students. This has been
attested to by a report which claims that students scored distinctions in the
written English Language paper but failed at interviews ‫۔‬
The use of English for oral communication appears to be difficult for learners of English as a
second or foreign language.
Zhang (2009) claims that for the majority of English learners, speaking is the most difficult
skill to master. The problem is exacerbated when the language is only heard in the
classroom and not practiced. The problem is also intensified when there is no support for its
use outside the classroom. This point of
view appears to be logical. However, there are a number of factors which can elucidate this
matter such as inhibition, nothing to
say, low or uneven participation, and mother-tongue use.
Focus on the speaking skill
The focus on the speaking skill is to effectuate the acquisition of the English language
among elementary learners. It is
imperative that this happens as the ability to speak English nowadays is crucial for
advancement in certain fields of human
endeavour, especially science and technology.
Aim of the English Language Curriculum is ‘to equip pupils with basic language skills to
enable them to communicate effectively in a variety of context that is appropriate to the
pupils’ level of development.
The idea of focusing on the speaking skill is to enable the learners to communicate in
English using simple structures,
based on meaningful contexts.Language acquisition and development have been viewed
from various perspectives. The behaviourists believe that learning is a result of a series
stimuli and responses. Learners are made to produce language automatically
through repetition of structures. Habits are formed as a result of reinforcement and reward.
The behavioristic ideas were rejected by Chomsky (1986).
According to Chomsky, children have an inherent ability to learn any language. Chomsky
believes that children are
born with a Language Acquisition Devise (LAD). They are able to pick up and process
language that they hear around
them easily. They are also able to acquire grammar based on certain similarities all
languages have. Chomsky accounts
for this ability through his principle of Universal Grammar (UG). All languages are made up
of the same components such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, vowels and consonants.
Nevertheless, in learning a second language, learners may produce linguistic structures
which differ from those made
by native speakers of the language. Schachter (1990) argues that second language learners
do not use principles of UG independently without referring to their first language.
According to the cognitive and information processing theories, language learning is the
result of the human brain forming networks of associations based on the input received.

3. Piaget (1959) postulates that children interact with their environment to obtain knowledge
and understand the world around them. Vygotsky’s (1962) view is in line with Piaget’s. He
maintains that the child acquires language by engaging in conversation with adults. The
adults teach children about
the world around them.
Lenneberg (1967), a psycholinguist, postulates the Critical Age Hypothesis for language
acquisition. According to this hypothesis language acquisition can easily occur between the
age of two and the age of puberty, that is, around the age of twelve.
STRATEGIES to master speaking skill.
● Practising short and simple sentences.
● Brainstorming (fostering new ideas into the mind of child )
● Story telling
● Discussion
● Simulation
● Role play
● Picture describing
● Playing cards
Areas to be focused while teaching speaking skill .
● To enable the students speak orally.
● Use language suited to the situation .
● Correct pronunciation and intonation‫۔‬
● Appropriate diction (word choice).
● Speech manners (posture, gestures)‫۔‬
● Presenting ideas in logical sequence.
Types of speaking
● Formal
● Informal
● Referential(pointing towards a reference)
● Expressive(conveying thoughts and feelings)
● Phatic(expressing politeness and friendship)
● Monologue (a long speech by one person)
● Dialogue
● Face to Face
● Telephonic
● Slangy (impolite )
● Abstract
● Concrete
Sequence of Activities to be given to the students
What to teach while teaching speaking skill ? This is a perturbing ask .Let me put it in a
sequence to ease the task:
A
● Greetings (Good morning‫۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔‬formal‫)۔۔۔۔‬Hi‫۔۔۔‬Hello(informal)

4. ● To have the attention of a stranger (excuse me,I beg your pardon,can I ask for a
favour ,would you mind‫۔۔۔‬helping me)
● Requests (could you possibly‫۔۔۔‬I'm sorry to trouble you‫۔۔‬can you please‫۔۔۔۔۔‬could you
‫۔۔۔‬would you‫۔۔‬ may you‫۔۔‬
● Gratitude (it is very kind /nice of you ‫۔‬I'm grateful to you‫۔‬Thank you ‫۔۔۔‬
● Congratulating ( congratulations‫۔۔‬we would like to congratulate you‫﴾۔۔‬informal‫۔‬
Congrates/well done ‫۔۔۔‬
● Apology )I apologize/I beg your pardon/very sorry/extremely sorry‫۔۔۔۔‬
● Expressing sympathy (I'm very upset to hear‫۔۔۔۔‬/I sympathize with ‫(۔۔۔۔۔‬informal‫۔۔۔‬How
sad ! That is a pity ….
● Seeking permission (may i‫۔‬/would it be alright‫۔۔‬/can /could/ might…
● Granting permission ( yes/we are pleased to ‫۔۔۔‬that is alright‫۔۔۔‬of course ‫۔۔۔‬please go
ahead
● Refusing (no,please ‫۔۔‬I'm sorry ‫۔۔‬I'm afraid I can't‫۔۔۔۔۔۔‬I would like to ‫۔۔۔‬but sorry
B.1.List your abilities and inabilities as:
I can ………….. I cannot‫۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔‬
I can ‫۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔‬ I cannot‫۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔‬
I can ‫۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔‬ I cannot‫۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔‬
2 .Ask for permission
May I ‫۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔‬ May i ‫۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔‬
‫۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔‬
3.Greet your teacher
Good morning/evening/afternoon‫۔۔۔۔۔‬
4.Greet your friend
Hi ‫۔۔۔‬ Hello
5.
● Story telling
● Discussion
● Simulation
● Role play
● Picture describing
● Playing cards
SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT.
It is a holistic approach of assessment which focuses competency rather than
memorization.It is child centred and based on active pedagogy.If we want to
assess the speaking skill of the students we can proceed like this:

5. 1.Describe this tree.(it's hight ,branches,leaves,fruits,what it eats and how)‫۔‬
2.I can swim. (Replace the word swim with some other abilities you have (at
least 5)
3.You are asking for the permission, complete the structures‫۔‬
…... I come in?
…... I take your pen?
4.Practice.
CONCLUSION

6. It is obvious that there is no one direct strategy to develop the speaking skill among young
learners especially when the language is not their mother tongue. The various theories
mentioned above have a role to play in the children’s acquisition of English as a second
language. Each of the theories contributes to the understanding of how a language is
acquired by children. The period from infancy to puberty is the fertile period for language
development .
References:
● Macmillan English thinking and writing .
● Practical English usage Micheal swan
● The Asian journal of English language volume 2015
● Alford Council of International English & Literature Journal(ACIELJ) Vol-2,Issue-2
,2019 ISSN
● Internet ( Google surfing).
● Module book DIET Budgam.