Teaching ESOL Listening and Speaking

Abstract

Breaking the sound barrier in a new language is a difficult step. Like babies learning their mother tongue, language learners generally go through a silent period, during which they listen to simplified language, and may even respond to simple commands, but do not respond orally. This chapter deals with techniques designed to help adult learners gain proficiency in listening comprehension, retention, pronunciation, and fluency. Most language students today do not learn a language for reading ability only, as was the case in the past. With the world becoming more of a global village every day, opportunities to hear and speak English are a reality for most English learners in a way that was not the case a mere decade or two ago. When students learn English as a second language (ESL) in an English-speaking country such as the United States, they are immersed in the language to such an extent that many teachers do not feel the need to emphasize speaking and listening skills. This is especially true for children, who are likely to “pick up” the needed oral skills without a great deal of effort or specific training. Adult learners, however, especially those who are not immersed in the foreign language (EFL), will need training and specific practice in oral skills if they hope to gain sufficient mastery of the language to use it for communication. Even though the focus of language teaching nowadays is communication, not becoming a native speaker, adult EFL learners will still need help if they are to learn the language well enough to communicate freely and understandably