This document discusses teaching speaking as a foreign language. It begins with definitions of teaching and speaking and an overview of topics to be covered, which include the definition of speaking, the history of teaching speaking, types of spoken language, characteristics of spoken language, micro-skills of speaking, principles of teaching speaking, and techniques for teaching speaking in the classroom. It then explains the definition of speaking and provides a historical description of learning and teaching speaking, noting that speaking skills were traditionally learned through exposure and oral practice, and that the study of modern languages became part of school curriculums in the 18th century through academic study of grammar and translation.