Developing Fluency
Irina GrekovaCELTA, DELTA, MA in TESOL
BKC International House Moscow
Developing Fluency(Reference: Jo Gakonga, webinar ‘Freer speaking activities’
http://elttraining.mdl2.com/mod/page/view.php?id=128
1. What are fluency speaking activities?2. Why have fluency tasks?3. What makes them successful?4. What problems can arise?5. 6 types of communicative tasks6. Resources
What kind of person are you?Are you a tea person or a coffee person?
a morning … or an evening …?an earth … or a fire …?a mountain… or a valley…?a jungle… or a forest…?an indoor… or an outdoor…?a garden… or a forest…?a sound… or a sight…?a straight line… or a loops and curves…?
Developing fluency
Accuracy Fluency(form) (meaning)Drill/ gap-fill discussion
Developing fluency
Accuracyno communicative
purpose (?)focus on formone language item onlyteacher intervention
Fluencydesire to communicatecommunicative purposefocus on meaningvariety of languageno teacher intervention
Developing fluency
Accuracy
Gap fillMatchingFinishing sentencesOpening brackets
FluencyRole playDiscussionDebateStory makingProblem solvingSurveyInterview
Developing fluency
Is it just speaking?
Language Speaking Language input input (PPP approach) (TBL; errorGr/ Vocab/ FL correction)
Example 1
My best friend • Name• How I know her• Why I like her 1.Think about your friend 2. Tell your partner about them 3. Your partner must ask you 2 Qs
Developing fluency
Language Speaking Language input input
Adjectives of personalityDescribing peoplePresent PerfectPast Simple
Example 2
Developing fluency
Parents Teenagers
Is there any chance of borrowing…
I’d like to, but… Would you mind if I borrowed… I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’d be really careful if you let me …
If you borrowed it, you’d probably…
Developing fluency
Language Speaking Language input input Error correction
Error correction
If you would borrow a car, you would crash it!
Please, let me to borrow it!
You will accident!
What makes the task successful?
• An interesting topic• Personalization• Setting it up• Providing a model• Time for preparation• Purpose• Structure• Relaxed atmosphere• Even participation
How would you set it up?
Problems• You want to give up smoking• Your child is being bullied at school• You have a really bad headache• You’ve lost your job• Your boy/girlfriend has left you• Your life is boring
Problems
• Ls are unable to express themselves• Ls feel inhibited• Ls have nothing to say• Ls are unclear about what to do• Some Ls are silent• Ls use L1• Ls make a lot of mistake
Problems and Solutions• Ls are unable to express
themselves• Ls feel inhibited• Ls have nothing to say• Ls are unclear about what
to do• Some Ls are silent• Ls use L1• Ls make a lot of mistake
• Keep th level lower• Frame/ set it up• Give preparation time• Give a model• Specific not general• Role cards• Small amount-fine• Not a problem
Developing fluency
A communicative task is….
Communicative task
‘A communicative task is an activity where the language is used by the learner for a communicative purpose (goal) in order to achieve an outcome.’
‘A Framework for Task Based Learning’ by J. Willis.
Aspects of a communicative task
• Goal – oriented• Language used in a meaningful way• Emphasis on understanding, conveying
meanings in order to complete the task• Outcome
Types of communicative activities
• Listing• Ordering & sorting• Comparing• Problem solving• Sharing personal experience• Creative tasks
Types of communicative activities
Information gap Questions & discussionsactivities answers clarificationGuessing games techniques Jigsaw tasks projects
Interviews
problem solving role-plays stories