2. English Speaking.
History of the English curriculum in Thailand
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Formerly, the English curriculum at all levels in the Thai education mainly focused on
reading and grammar rather than speaking (Karnpanich & Pulphol. 1997). The aim of the
study was to enable students to read and comprehend English texts with less practice in
speaking and writing. Thus, the students lacked confidence and courage to speak, and
consequently they might develop negative attitudes towards learning how to speak English.
Later in 1978, the former English curricula was reformed and it had to be revised again in
1999 because “foreign languages learning, especially in the English language fails to build
up competencies in using language for communications.” (Ministry of Education. 2002: 2).
The new English curricula implemented in 1999 have been in use since then. Thus, the
teachers of English have been experimenting with new teaching techniques for successful
communicative ability, particularly speaking.
Types of classroom speaking performance
Scholars have defined speaking in a second language as “an interactive process of
constructing meaning that involves producing, receiving and processing information”
(Brown. 1994; Frorez. 1999: 1; citing Burns & Joyce.1997). Speaking requires not only that
learners know how to produce specific points of language such as grammar, pronunciation
or vocabulary (linguistic competence), but also that they understand when, why and in what
ways to use the language (sociolinguistic competence) (Ur. 1996). Therefore, speaking is
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one of the productive skills where speakers need to have both linguistic and socio-linguistic
competence in order to communicate with others.
There are many types of classroom speaking activities. The following are Brown’s
(1994: 266-268) six categories of oral production that students are expected to carry out in
the classroom.
1. Imitative. The speaking tasks in the classroom are drills in which learners simply
repeat a phrase or structure for clarity and accuracy.
2. Intensive. The speaking activities are drills or repetition forms focusing on specific
phonological or grammatical points such as minimal pairs or repetition of a series of
imperative sentences are performed.
3. Responsive. These speaking activities are short replies to teacher or learner
questions or comments such as a series of answers to yes-no questions.
4. The transactional (Dialogue). The activities are dialogues conducted for the purpose
of conveying or exchanging specific information, for example; information gathering,
interviews, role-plays or debates.
5. Interpersonal (Dialogue). This task is to establish or maintain social relationships
such as personal interviews or casual conversations and role-plays.
6. Extensive (Monologue). For these tasks, students at intermediate to advanced levels
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are required to give extended monologues in the form of oral reports, summaries, or short
speeches. These kinds of tasks can be planned or impromptu.
From Brown’s classroom speaking performance, this study will concentrate on Brown’s
sixth category: Extensive (Monologue). It is speculated that this type in classroom oral
production should be beneficial to students if they have sufficient practice.
Problems with speaking activities
Many second language learners are not successful in learning English. Ur
(1996:121) claims that there are four reasons as follows:
1. Inhibition. Speaking requires real-time exposure to an audience. Learners are often
inhibited from trying to speak in a foreign language in the classroom. They are worried
about making mistakes, are afraid of criticism or losing face, or are simply shy to speak.
2. Nothing to say. Learners often complain that they cannot think of anything to say.
They have no motivation to express themselves beyond the classroom pressure that they
should be speaking.
3. Low or uneven participation. In a given speaking activity, only one person can speak
at a time. Therefore, in a large group each person will have little chance to speak. Some
learners tend to dominate whereas others speak very little or not at all.
4. Mother-tongue use. When second language learners share the same ‘mother
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tongue’ in classes, they tend to use it because it is easier. They feel that it is not natural to
speak in a foreign language.
There are some suggestions that can help language teachers solve these problems.
They should use group work, basing the activity on easy language, making a careful choice
of topics and tasks to stimulate interest, giving some instruction or training in discussion
skills, and keeping students speaking the target language (Ur. 1996). In addition, teachers
should create a relaxed atmosphere, accustom the learners to listening and speaking in
natural interaction, organize pairs and group work, and avoid any obsession with accuracy.
Moreover, the teachers should encourage incidental classroom speaking, giving learners
the expressions they need and exploit every opportunity for conversation (Davies and
Pearse. 2000).
Besides the classroom tasks, students need to be aware of the socio-linguistic rules
of the target language as well as the cultural differences involving what constitutes
appropriate use of their new language as opposed to their first language (Celce-Murcia and
Goodwin (1991: 136-154).
In conclusion, all of the views of Celce-Murcia and Goodwin. (1991), Davies and
Pearse (2000), and Ur (1996) are relevant in helping students use a second language
effectively.
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Principles for designing speaking techniques
Knowing the principles for designing speaking techniques is vital in creating
effective classroom activities. Brown (1994:268-269) suggests that techniques should be as
follows.
a) Cover the spectrum of learners’ needs from language-based activities focused
on accuracy to message-based activities focused on interaction, meaning and fluency.
b) Be intrinsically motivating.
c) Encourage the use of authentic language in meaningful context.
d) Provide appropriate feedback and correction.
e) Capitalize on the natural link between speaking and listening.
f) Give students opportunities to initiate oral communication.
g) Encourage the development of speaking strategies.
The most important feature of a classroom speaking activity is to provide an
authentic activity for the students to get individual meanings across and utilize every area of
knowledge they have in the second or foreign language (Celce-Murcia & Olshatain.
2000:176-177). She also mentions that by focusing the target language outside the
classroom, students can be given tasks that require them to collect meaningful information
from stores, restaurants and other public places and then report the findings in class.
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In addition, some activities that help students to practice speaking in long turns are
telling stories, telling jokes, describing a person or place in detail, recounting the plot of a
film, giving a short lecture or talk and arguing a case for or against a proposal (Ur.
1996:131). These kinds of activities are also considered as parts of oral presentations.
In summary, the principles of Brown (1994) and Celce-Murcia and Olshatain (2000)
are vital for designing classroom-speaking activities which are consistent to the kind of oral
presentations that Ur (1996) suggests.
3. Oral Presentations
According to the definition of Mandel (1993), “A presentation is a type of speech”.
He also states that when we think of a speech, we think of a dedication speech, a political
speech, a speech of tribute or something similar that is more public in nature than a
presentation. However, presentations are speeches that are usually given in a business,
technical, professional or scientific environment. For the audience, it is likely to be more
specialized than those attending a typical speaking event. On the other hand, Eggleston
(2003) states, “Whenever you are asked to appear in front of one or more people for the
purpose of explaining, convincing, or otherwise conveying information to them, you have a
presentation”.
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In brief, an oral presentation is a type of speech that gives specific information to a
particular audience.
Benefits of giving oral presentations
Oral presentations give many benefits to students. Oral presentations provide
students learning experience in all subjects and in their future careers (King. 2002). Aside
from that, he notes three other advantages of making oral presentations: (a) training
students to have confidence in public speaking; (b) enhancing effective presentation skills;
and (c) encouraging students to learn how to collect and organize information. Similarly,
Siriphotchanakorn (2005) concluded there are four benefits of giving oral presentations to
the students in her study: (a) practice of English speaking; (b) interaction in classroom; (c)
confidence in using English in front of people; and (d) practice of presentation skills. When
students do oral presentations, they will enhance self-confidence in their oral language
proficiency (Dobie. 1999; Reilly. 1988 ;& Wichayathian. 2003). Oral presentations are a way
of letting students express themselves in English and at the same time giving the teacher a
chance to listen to them (McGovern. 1997:32).
In addition, it is claimed that oral presentations help students practice speaking and
also help speakers and listeners become productive partners in the ESL/EFL classrooms
(Abe. 1999). As a result, the speakers and listeners can share ideas and information before
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giving oral presentations. After giving oral presentations, students might be asked to debate
and have discussion.
However, oral presentations should be appropriate for high- intermediate,
advanced, or superior-level students, but they are inappropriate for novice or lowintermediate
level students (Murphy. 1991). If the activities are too difficult, students may
not be interested in participating in those activities and may have negative attitud