How can we provide lessons which genuinely help our students to improve their speaking? In the view of the presenter, it is relatively common for teachers to confuse the oral activation of a target language point such as a lexical set or an item of grammar with genuine speaking skills development. This webinar therefore argues for the provision of input which focuses on speaking sub-skills as core to the development of our learners’ speaking proficiency.

This session begins by drawing a clear distinction between language activation activities, which are required for the learners’ acquisition of the target language, and activities which genuinely develop speaking sub-skills. Drawing on examples from modern course books such as Language Hub and speaking tests, the webinar shows what a speaking skills lesson and course should look like. It also puts forward the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) as an invaluable tool for identifying level appropriate input for purposeful speaking skills development.