THE FOUR
SPEAKING SKILLS
It is a common desire for all of us to speak a second language
well. To do this we need to know what skills are required to become a good
speaker. This short article will help you to understand four important skills
that you need to develop:
1.FLUENCY. Fluency is
about how comfortable and confident you are in speaking English. If you can
speak for an extended period of time, that is an indicator of strong fluency.
It is also about showing a clear connection between each point that you are
trying to make. This skill means that the listener can follow what you are
saying and does not get lost.
2.VOCABULARY. Of course,
if you don’t have the words to say what you want to say, then you cannot say it.
Being a good speaker means constantly growing you’re vocabulary. The more
interesting words you know, the stronger your speaking skills. The best way to
grow your vocabulary is to read in English and make a note of any new words
that you encounter in a vocabulary notebook.
3.GRAMMAR. The dreaded
G word! Grammar does matter and the fewer mistakes you make, the better your
speaking skill will be. However, do not worry about making mistakes either! A
good speaker does not have to use perfect grammar. Certainly, though, it is a
good idea to make sure that you have mastered the major tenses.
4.PRONUNCIATION.
Pronunciation is a complex area, with a lot of sub skills that can be
practiced. The basic rule of thumb is that an average speaker can speak and be
understood. A skilled speaker can use the sub skills of pronunciation to
emphasise and make the communicative effect of their speech more impactful. The
sub skills of pronunciation include: word and sentence stress, intonation,
rhythm and the use of the individual sounds of a language. A good way to
practice your pronunciation is to copy! Simply listen to how someone with good
pronunciation speaks, and try to imitate them as closely as possible.
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