Raise your words, not your voice. Techniques for developing the ability of speaking in English classes in Secondary Obligatory Education

Abstract

[eng] The main aim of this paper is to emphasize the need to practise more spoken English within Secondary English classes in Spain. Furthermore, the reality within the EFL classroom is explored to attempt to understand whether students are practising the spoken skill sufficiently alongside the other communicative skills of listening, reading and writing, which are equally as important within the language learning process. Authors who have studied the difficulties of promoting the use of the target language within an EFL context will also be referred to throughout this work. Additionally, other factors such as student motivation, student anxiety or fear of public speaking are analysed to reach conclusions on how best to prepare our students to speak in English both inside and outside the classroom. The title “Raise your words, not your voice” refers to the need for students to speak in English in order to better practise oral communication in the target language and to create speech patterns that make oneself understood; it is not enough for learners to simply raise their voices, without prior thought to what is being said out loud. Also, a specially designed student questionnaire was handed out to students at IES Bendinat Secondary school to gain feedback and vital insight on their experience of practising and using English during their time in Secondary school. After gathering and analysing the results of the questionnaires, suggestions on communicative activities will be made available for EFL teachers to use in class which aid the speaking process in English classrooms.