Teaching Speaking to students
Eirini Myrsini Papani Listening is undoubtedly a neglected skill in English language teaching. Unfortunately, speaking is also not given the importance it deserves, despite the undisputable fact that “it is one of man’s most complex skills, unique to our species” ( Levelt, 1998:1 ). Unsuccessful syllabi, bahaviouristic models and traditional approaches to teaching only achieved to create “silent” or “pseudocompetent” students. During the last two decades, however, the fresh insights of the communicative approach into the nature of speaking and classroom communication oiled the wheels of talk, engaging students in meaningful interaction and viewing language, not, anymore, as an end in itself, but as a useful instrument. Of course, there is still a long way to go until it will be completely realized (by teachers and material designers) that especially now, in the era of globalization, it is necessary to mould confident and competent speakers of the international language. In the light of...