This document discusses approaches to teaching speaking skills in language education. It covers topics like the purposes of speaking, what needs to be taught, and how some methodologies have addressed teaching speaking. It notes that speaking skills involve both bottom-up skills like pronunciation and top-down skills like discourse structure. Methodologies discussed include audiolingual drills, communicative approaches using tasks and role-plays, and addressing vocabulary, pronunciation and interactional routines through modeling and practice. The document questions whether textbooks fully cover issues like cultural rules, politeness and register.