Little Opportunity To Practise

     English. Speaking is perhaps the most demanding skill for the teacher to develop. The children often naturally insert their native language when they cannot find the right words to express what they want to say in English.

      It is important for the language teacher to remember that young children may spend a long time absorbing language before they actually produce anything. It is not a good idea to try to force them to speak in the target language as this can create a lot of emotional stress. By doing repetitive songs, rhymes, games, and plenty of choral work, children will be able to produce language without the stress of having to speak individually. 

      Even if small children are not actually saying anything, they will still be taking in it. Some children say nothing at all in class but go home and tell their parents what they have learnt.53 In such condition, it is important for the teacher to give motivation and encourage the students to have more bravery to speak in the classroom. Since children at primary level are usually extremely limited in the amount of language they know, free conversation is simply not possible. 

     Hence all oral tasks such as drills or simple role-plays have to take place in a very well defined framework. Most of our pupils have little opportunity to practise speaking English outside the classroom and so they need lots of practice when they are in class. What is important with beginners is finding the balance between providing languages through controlled and guided activities and at the same time letting them enjoy natural talk