What is a good speaking lesson?
Why are speaking tasks useful?
A good speaking lesson should…
maximize students’ interaction
provide students with enough language use
create a real “english corner” for students
…
Speaking tasks help…
prepare for Ss real-life communication 
situations
provide feedback for T & Ss
engage Ss to lessons
Controlled oral practice 
(Study)
◦
repetition / substitution drills
◦
read conversations / poems / passages aloud
◦
…
 to practice a specific bit of language
 to focus on accuracy
Oral / speaking tasks 
(Activate)
◦
role plays
◦
communication games
◦
discussion
◦
questionnaires
◦
…
to perform a task by using spoken language
Before
During
After 
Lead-in
: stimulate learners’ interest; 
provide them with ideas
Language focus
: vocabulary, 
pronunciation, connected speech, 
language functions
Speaking 
task / tasks
Transfer and language focus
: correction
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9
1. List your 5 most favorite singers.
2. List your 5 free-time activities. 
10
You’ve 1,000 bucks, what would you buy?
 Why did you buy those items? 
Scanner $100 Watch $100CD Player $200
Printer $200Copier $500MP3 $200
Computer $400 Camera $200 Phone $300 
11
Vietnam Facts:
•
Population: 81.5 mil
•
HCMC people: 4.9 mil
•
GDP: $40 billion
•
Software piracy: 92%
•
Color TV/100 people: 40
•
Rice made: 22 mil tons
•
Rice eaten: 18 mil tons
•
Receives 3
rd
 highest aid
Thailand Facts:
•
Population: 63 mil
•
Bangkok people: 6.5 mil
•
GDP: $143 billion
•
Software piracy: 80%
•
Color TV/100 people: 83
•
Rice made: 18 mil tons
•
Rice eaten: 9.5 mil tons
•
Makes most rubber
(source: Economist)
Let’s add to the list! 
12
Roses are Red…
 I am in love with a girl who is very attractive. She 
doesn’t know how I feel. I have her address and 
phone number, but i don’t know what to do? Should 
I call her? I could send her some roses or 
chocolates, but I can’t decide which is better. If I 
send something, what should I write on the card?
Source: Headway
13
1. Cluster ideas around a topic teaching methodoiogy
2. Investigate things, e.g. how do highschool students 
learn English?
Speaking tasks …
create an information gap
give Ss choice of what to say & how to say it
encourage Ss to give & receive feedback
When to correct?
when focusing on accuracy
What to correct?
pronunciation, word use, grammar
How to correct?
direct correction, echoing, prompting, peer