Effective experiences in teaching speaking skill (supplementary practice for unit 5 – Technology and you partb: speaking – English10)

THANH HOA EDUCATION &TRAINING DEPARTMENT
DONG SON I HIGH SCHOOL
EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE
EFFECTIVE EXPERIENCES
IN TEACHING SPEAKING SKILL
(SUPPLEMENTARY PRACTICE FOR UNIT 5 –TECHNOLOGY AND YOU
PARTB : SPEAKING –ENGLISH10)
The writer : Nguyễn Thị Lan Hương
Possition : Teacher
 The field of the experience initiative : Foreign language
THANH HOA, 2019
1. INTRODUCTION 
1.1. Reasons for choosing the theme.
* Basis of theory :
As we know, the more the world’s economy develops, the wider the cultural, political and social exchanges become. So as to integrate into the world as well as extend international relationship with other countries in various fields, especially to access to the latest scientific achievements, mastering English has been of great vitality. It has been considered the core subject in the syllabus of our country’s education system.
At present, there has been considerable reform in English curriculum at secondary level. Not only is it renovated in content and appearance but also in teaching method. Teaching foreign languages in general and English in particular no longer focuses students on studying the language system but helps them know how to use it as a means of communication. That means to improve students’ communicative ability which is expressed by two productive skills : speaking and writing.
Of the two skills mentioned above, speaking is considered a more difficult task for a large number of learners. Not only does it require vast knowledge about the topics they would like to talk but also a great deal of vocabulary and grammatical structures to express what they mean. In addition, to acquire a perfect communicative competence, it is essential that learners should have a thorough grasp of suitable structures applied flexibly in diversified contexts.
The fact is that the prior interest of both teachers and students is how to effectively teach and study English so as to improve their ability of communication in English. Experiencing a rather long period of teaching English at Upper – secondary level, I have realized that students possibly do grammatical exercises quite well, however, hardly do they speak a sentence with correct grammatical rules, regardless say it in appropriate situations or not. It is open to question that how teacher manage to guide students to practise and apply their speaking skill efficiently.
In recent years, teaching and studying English with communicative approach has become widespread. Its objective is to develop students’ activeness, creativeness and initiative to enable them to accomplish their communicative skill. As a result, students have been getting more and more flexible and active in the lectures and so have appeared the learner centered classes. In order to achieve great success in teaching speaking skill, it is vital that learners should be motivated. It is Games that are regarded as efficient motivation and environment of communication. Undoubtedly, teachers probably avoid dull lessons as well as making students more excited and interested by applying games in practising speaking skill.
It is the reasons mentioned above that have been encouraging me to choose the theme: “ EXPERIENCES EFFECTIVELY IN TEACHING SPEAKING SKILL- English 10 ”.
* Basis of practice :
	As can be seen, English is a rather difficult subject to students particularly the rural ones. Among four language skills, speaking is considered the most challenging task for both teachers and learners.
	From the matter of fact, during most of speaking lessons, if teachers apply the out of date teaching method – teachers only read or give illustrations and students’ work is either copying or imitating, there will be only a small number of students branstorming and working actively, the rests will passively listen regardless understand the meaning, purposes and usages of structures and communicative situations given. Hence, this results in low teaching quality and few students with flying colours. To make it worse, students increasingly lose their interest in practising speaking skill and fail to upgrade their communicative abilities.
	To get a better view of the fact of teaching and learning English speaking skill, I have carried out a survey on Grade 10 students of two classes (10..10..) of my school by 5 questions relating to learning speaking skill and using games in teaching it. The questionnaire is as follow:
QUESTIONNAIRE
Put a tick ( P ) in your option
Question 1 : Do you enjoy learning English ?* Very much
	* Not much
	* Not at all
Question 2 : Which skill do you consider the most important ? *Reading
	* Speaking
	* Listening
	* Writing
Question 3 : How do you enjoy speaking skill ? *Very much
	 * Not much
 * Not at all
Question 4 : Do you enjoy playing games in speaking lessons? *Very much
	 * Not much
 * Not at all
Question 5 : How do you feel when playing games in speaking lessons ? 
* Very excited
* No special feeling
Boring
ANSWERS
Percentage (%)
1. Enjoy learning English
62
2. Consider speaking skill the most important
83
3. Enjoy speaking skill
22
4. Enjoy playing games in speaking lessons
90
5. Get excited when playing games in speaking lessons
95
	The result of the survey indicates that over 60% of students are interested in learning English. Although over 80% of students appreciate the importance of speaking skill, only 22% are fond of it. On the other hand, most of them (90%) enjoy playing games in speaking lessons and the number of students that get excited and stimulated by games organized in speaking lessons is up to 95%.
	It can be concluded that applying games in speaking lessons is certainly effective in teaching speaking skill.
	It is known that applying games in teaching brings about a great number of benefits. Not only do they creat excitement and relaxation after stressful hours of studying but they also change the atmosphere of the class and make the lessons more attractive.	
1.2. Aims of the research
 As an English teacher with over twenty years’ experience, I have continuously been wondering and researching for the techniques to better the quality of teaching English. Knowing that the students’ psychophysiology is doing what they fancy, enjoying new things, putting their noses on pleasures rather than studying, I have been trying my best to offer them lectures in which they can work for both study and relaxation . This method brings them the sense of joy and easiness when they learn English lessons in general and speaking lessons in particular through several games. In order to creat motivation and situations in which students are encouraged to speak, I have been getting the best out of the popular games not only to draw students’ attention but also enable them to actively take part in speaking activities.
	Through my years’ time of teaching English as well as exchanging, referring to related materials and drawing experiences after each lecture, I myself have found a suitable technique of teaching speaking skill for students in Grade 10 ( the first year of secondary level as well as the background for developing speaking skill in the next grades ). This technique has not only enabled me to lull most of students to take part in speaking lessons actively, enthusiatically and creatively but also creat an exciting atmosphere, raise students’s love for speaking English and help them increasingly upgrade their speaking skill by “applying games in English speaking lessons of English 10”. This technique has been applied in quite a long time of my teaching English 10 and I have got considerably hopeful result. Therefore, I decisively exchange my initiative experience with my collagues.
1.3. Objects of the research :
This subject is concerned with ways of organizing games in speaking lessons of Grade 10 English. 
1.4. Methods of the research :
- Using the text - book English 10 to apply to each speaking lesson .
- Reading reference books to improve.
- Using the soft ware POWERPOINT, pictures and other materials.
- Discussing with other teachers.
- Applying in teaching. 
- Observing and drawing out experiences.
2. CONTENTS
2.1 Definition of Game: 
A Game is structured form of play, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool.  Key components of games are goals, rules, challenge, and interaction. Games generally involve mental or physical stimulation, and often both. Many games help develop practical skills, serve as a form of exercise, or otherwise perform an educational, stimulational, or psychological role. In teaching a language,the focus of the games is onsuccessful communication rather than on accuracy of target language.
2.2 Effectiveness of Games in speaking lessons :
Learning speaking skill is a difficult task which can sometimes be irritating. It is necessary that learners should make constant effort to understand, produce and manipulate the target language. Games are highly stimulating thanks to their both amusement and challenges. In addition, they employ meaningful and useful language in real contexts. They also encourage and increase cooperation. 
- Games are full of fun and children are excited about playing them. 
- Not only doGames offer students good chances to learn and practise speaking but they are also great stimulus of speaking by providing a plausible incentive to use the target language. Therefore,they encourage students to interact and communicate in the target language.
- Games create a meaningful situations for language use. The Game contexts make the foreign language immediately useful to the students. It brings the target language to life. 
- By playing Games can students speak English as naturally as they learn their mother tongue without being aware they are studying even to the hesitant and shy students.
Advantages of using game :
+ Games create an enjoyable environment
+Games pgrovide active learner –centered learning 
	+Games are highly motivating
	+ Gmes promote co-operation and competition
	+Games stimulate students’ creativeness
	+Games provide immediate feedback and informal testing 
2.3 Games and the ways to organize them in speaking lessons of English 10:
	It is unquestionable that games play an important role in teaching foreign languages in general and English in particular, especially in practising speaking skill. There is a wide range of games which teachers probably take full advantages of to stimulate students in speaking lessons. The games that I my self have been effectively applying in my speaking lessons of English 10 are : Nought (O) and Cross (X), Lucky numbers / stars , Shark attack, Magical Wheel / Hat and Role play game.
* Game “ Nought (O) and Cross (X) ” : 
	This game is drammatically useful in practising saying sentences or short dialogues.
	To organize it, it is necessary to prepare a table of 9 squares numbered from 1 to 9 as the following one ( teacher can replace 9 squares by 9 pictures or images relating to the content of the practice to make the game more vivid ). The requirements of practice are hiden behind the numbers / pictures.
* Note : Teacher can design this game by using the software POWER POINT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
	Teacher divides the class into 2 teams / groups namely Nought (O) and Cross (X). Each team / group takes turns to choose the number or picture they would like to practise. Each correct answer ( good presentation ) will bring the team a mark of a nought (O) or a cross (X). Which team earns a line of 3 marks arranged vertically ( horizontally or diagorally ) will become the winner. 
*Forexample : When teaching part B. Speaking of Unit 5 : Technology and You, teacher can organize the game “ Nought (O) and Cross (X) ” in Task 1 –Ask and answer about the uses of modern inventions.
* Steps :	- Before playing the game, teacher has to make sure that students have mastered the vocabulary relating to the uses of the modern devices, then teacher presents the structures used to talk about them. 
- Teacher gives an example : 
	A : Can / Could you tell me what a cell phone is used for ?
	B : It is used to + talk to people when you are away from home.
	- Teacher conducts a dialogue as the model :
	A : Can / Could you tell me what a / an ..is used for ?
	B : It is used to + V ( infinitive ) + 
	- Teacher asks students to practise speaking about the uses of the modern devices by playing the game “ Nought (O) and Cross (X) ”as follow : 
	- Teacher shows a table of 9 pictures of 9 modern devives. 
	- Teacher divides the class into 2 teams named Nought (O) and Cross (X)
each team takes turn to choose the devices they would like to talk about. Each completed and good presentation will bring them a mark of (O) or (X) responding to the name of the team. At the end of the game, which team gets 3X or 3O invertical ( horizontal ordiagoral ) line will become the winner.
	Not only does this game stimulate students to try their best to present a perfect dialogue with correct vocabulary and structures but it also requires students’ strategy to win the game.
* Note : We can do the same in Task 2 of Part B. Speaking of Unit 1 : A day in the life of . ( talk about Quan’s activities ).
* Game “ Lucky numbers / stars ” : 
	This game is possibly used in practising short structures or small talks. To conduct it, teacher has to divide the information or linguistic data into items hiden behind the numbers / stars. Each number / star refers to a requirement of practice ( Note : the quantity of the numbers / stars must be even to make the game equal to the teams ). Teacher probably creats this game with the help of the soft ware POWER POINT as the following illustrations.
* Lucky stars : 
4
6
1
5
3
2
Lucky stars
* Lucky numbers : 
1
2
3
4
5
6
- To carry out this game, teacher divides the class into 2 teams / groups. The representative of each team/ group takes turns to choose the numbers or the stars they would like to practise. The team / group with good presentation will get 1 point. If a team/ group chooses a lucky number/ star, their point will be doubled. At the end of the game, the winner will be the one with higher score.
* For example: When teaching part B. Speaking of Unit 6 : An excursion, teacher can organize the game “ lucky numbers / stars ” in Task 2(talk about the best seats for each person on a boat trip ).
* Steps : - Before the game, teacher must make sure that students have understood the information relating to each person’s hobby and requirements.
	- Teacher presents the model used to suggest the best seats for the passengers on the boat trip : 
	I think  should sit in section  in seatbecause ( reason 1) and ( reason 2). 
- Teacher shows 8 stars, 6 of them hide the names of 6 passengers ( Mary/ Mrs Andrew/ Susan/ Tim/ John/ Sam ) and the rests are 2 lucky stars.
	1
Lucky stars
2
7
8
6
5
3
4
	- Teacher divides the class into 2 teams. Each team takes turns to choose one star. If they choose the star with the name of a passenger, they will have to say about the best seat for him/ her and get 1 point provided that their presentation meets the requirement. If they luckily choose the lucky star, they will get 2 points for their good practice.
	When the game finishes, the team with the higher score will become the winner.
* Note : We can do the same in Task 2 of Part B. Speaking of Unit 7 : The Mass Media ( talk about the main features of the different types of the mass media ) and in Task 3 ofPart B. Speaking of Unit 8 : The story of my village ( talk about the villagers’ plans and the possible results ).
* Game “ Shark attack ” : 
	To organize this game, teacher should prepare several images/ pictures or using the soft ware POWER POINT to design as the following illustration. 
Group A
Group B
* Note : the number of the stairs must be equivalent to the number of items that students have to practise.
	- Teacher possibly divides the class into 2, 3 or 4 teams / groups. The icon of the team/ group will stay the same if the team/ group produces good presentation or if not it will be moved to the lower stair. 
	- The team which loses the game is the one with the lowest step of all or being attacked by the shark. 
* For example : When teaching part B. Speaking of Unit14 : The World Cup, teacher can organize the game “ Shark attack ”in Task 3 ( talk about the World Cup winners ).
* Steps : - Before the game, teacher gives students an example about the first World Cup : The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. The final match was between Uruguayand Argentina. Uruguay defeated Argentina by 4 to 2.
	- Teacher presents the model used totalk about the World Cup winners : 
The  ( time ) World Cup was held in ... ( host nation ) in( year). The final match was between ( winner )and.( runner up ). ( winner ) defeated ( runner up ) by ( score )
Teacher divides the class into 3 teams.
Team A
Team C
Team B
- Teacher asks the teams to take turns to talk about the World Cup from 2nd to 16th ( using the table in Task 2 ). The icon of the team/ group will stay the same if the team/ group produces good presentation or if not it will be moved to the lower step.
- At the end of the game, which team is attacked by the shark or stands at the lowest step will become the looser.
* Note : We can do the same in Task 2 of Part B. Speaking of Unit 11 : National Parks ( talk about what the students in Nga’s class wish they had or hadn’t doneduring their excursion ) and in Task 2 + 3 of Part B. Speaking of Unit 13 ( talk about the feelings about each kind of film and the preferences for film ).
* Game“ Magical Wheel/ Hat ” :
	This is a greatly interesting game which strongly attracts students’ attention because of the surprising scores.
	- To carry out this game, it is advisable that teacher prepare a model of a Magical Wheel / Hat like the following illustration ( or it may be created by using the soft ware POWER POINT ). 
Points
	- This game is held by dividing the class into 2,3 or 4 teams/ groups depending on the items of practice. Each team / group takes turns to practise and the team/ group is allowed to spin the Wheel/ Hat if their practice meets the requirements or vice versa.
	- The score of the team/ group is the total point they earn after each time they are allowed to spin the Wheel/ Hat. The first prize will be given to the team/ group with the highest score of all.
* For example : When teaching part B. Speaking of Unit9 : Undersea World, teacher can organize the game “ Magical Wheel/ Hat ” in Task 2 ( talk about the consequences and possible sollutions to some threats to the health of the Oceans ).
* Steps : - Before the game, it is obligatory that teacher make sure that students have got thorough grasp of the vocabulary and ideas referring to protecting the oceans that are given in Task 1. 
- Teacher gives students an example : 
A : Sea animals are being overhunted. This makes the marine life unbalanced.
B : We should not fish for species that are limited, threatened or endangered.
	- Teacher presents students a model : 
	A : .( raise a threat to the health of the oceans ). This makes. ( consequence ).
	B : We should / had better  ( suggest a solution ).
	- Teacher divides the class into 2 teams ( A and B ), each team takes turns to present their dicussions about 4 threats given : 
	1. Beaches are filled with plastic bags, pieces of glass and cigarette buts.
	2. Whales and sharks are still hunted for food, medicine, and other products.
	3. Explosives are used to catch fish and other sea animals.
	4. Oil is spilled from tankers.
	- Each team has to present 2 dicussions about 2 threats. The team is allowed to spin the Wheel/ Hat if their presentation fulfills the requirements of the task. That means each team will maximumly has two chances to spin the Wheel / Hat.
	- When the game finishes, which team gets the higher total score