Teaching Speaking Skills - Motivating Students’ Confidence

Course Description:

This course covers speaking skills, exploring which exercises most effectively develop the ability to express oneself orally. The exercises are chosen because of the different degrees of confidence that they require. The course also covers various motivations for why a student might not be participating in class and how you as a teacher can mitigate these affects through techniques like anonymisation of feedback or through more active demonstration of how to complete activities such as discussion. Additionally, the course contains many handouts and resources which support the aforementioned exercises and skills.

Course Learning Objectives:

• Identify the factors and reasons that may hinder students from actively participating in class discussions and activities.
• Recognise and appreciate the variety of motivations that influence student behaviour, and how these motivations impact their willingness to speak in class.
• Develop a toolkit of exercises and techniques that build students’ confidence in speaking, enabling them to contribute more effectively in the classroom.
• Explore the benefits of role-playing exercises and understand how they can enhance students’ speaking skills and confidence. Analyse the suitability of role-play for different types of students.
• Understand the significance of debate and discussion exercises for improving speaking skills and participation. Learn specific techniques to facilitate these activities.
• Discover the value of presentation exercises and how they contribute to students’ confidence in speaking. Evaluate the effectiveness of presentation skills for different student profiles.
• Evaluate the impact of confidence-building exercises on students, considering their individual needs and abilities.
• Familiarise yourself with the provided handouts and resources and understand how they can complement the exercises and enhance students’ learning experiences.

Course Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognise and address the key factors that hinder students’ active participation in the classroom.
• Gain insight into the diverse motivations that drive student behaviour and tailor teaching strategies accordingly.
• Implement a range of exercises and techniques to boost students’ speaking skills and confidence, ensuring greater engagement in class.
• Understand the purpose of role-playing exercises and apply them to enhance students’ speaking abilities, considering various student profiles.
• Utilise specific techniques for facilitating debates and discussions, empowering students to communicate more effectively.
• Enhance students’ presentation skills, leading to increased self-assurance in speaking tasks.
• Assess the impact of confidence-building exercises on students, and make informed choices based on their individual needs.
• Utilise the provided handouts and resources to enrich classroom activities and support student development.

By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to create a more inclusive and engaging classroom environment, where students feel confident and motivated to actively participate in speaking activities and discussions.

Resources & Assessment:

• The course provides a range of resources to support learners and facilitate the application of acquired knowledge.
• The course incorporates a comprehensive final assessment, known as the ‘Course Test’, designed to evaluate participants’ understanding of the essential concepts covered throughout the course. Upon successfully passing this test, participants will be awarded a course certificate.