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Unit 12 covers the productive skills of speaking and writing. While both skills are different they serve the same purpose - to support communication efforts. Most students prefer to work on their speaking skills which are quicker and easier to utilize and improve. Accuracy and fluency speaking activities are used at different stages of the lesson and are equally important. Controlled accuracy activities are usually used as part of the study phase to focus on producing correct language, and fluency activities are used during the activate phase to allow student to be creative and express themselves freely within the limits of their language ability without being overly with accuracy. Accuracy based speaking activities include drilling exercises where students listen to teachers pronounication and repeat. Guided speaking activities include role play and sample dialogues and fluency speaking activities include role-plays, discussions and information gap exercises. Students, especially beginners, are often reluctant to speak during class due to a lack of confidence, fear of making mistakes, feeling intimidated and also previous lesson experience and cultural nuances. Positive student interaction is key to overcoming shyness in speaking and can be enhanced with stimulating engagement through pair work, group discussions and guided practice. The teacher should prepare well for effective speaking activities, engage the students and arouse their interest, give clear instructions, monitor the activity and provide encouraging and effective feedback. Writing is often considered the most neglected skill as often teachers won?t wish to devote class time to students writing activities and therefore it is given as homework leaving the writing skill underdeveloped. Written text and spoken word have many differences relating to grammar, vocabulary, spelling, handwriting and punctuation. Games both competitive and co-operative and popular with children and adults alike and are an integral part of making a class fun, engaging and motivational. Examples of popular games that can be adapted to language learning include crosswords, connect 4, hangman, noughts and crosses etc. As well as making the class more enjoyable such game activities also enhance practice opportunities and comprehension.
