|
The Importance of Accuracy and Fluency in Teaching Speaking Skills
Considering whether to focus on fluency versus accuracy is an important consideration when developing instructional strategies and activities to introduce and practice speaking skills.
Fluency is the natural use of language that occurs when a speaker participates in a conversation that maintains communication despite inaccuracy, requires negotiation of meaning, and addresses misunderstandings.
Fluency refers to the student's ability to:
• Speak easily using learned vocabulary and structures.
• Speak at a reasonable speed, with few pauses.
• Participate in a conversation.
Accuracy focuses on correctly using language and structures.
Accuracy refers to the student's ability to:
• Clear and articulate speaking.
• Control grammatical errors.
• Pronounce words correctly.
• Use language appropriate to the situation and/or context.
Tutoring instruction should provide a balanced approach that gives the student opportunities to build fluency while addressing the accuracy of their language.
Balancing fluency and accuracy is a tricky business. Students emphasizing fluency still need to keep grammar in mind, and students improving their accuracy cannot become so concerned about precision that they can no longer speak with ease. The solution is to find a healthy balance, which will differ for each student. Click here for more information on this topic.
Activities to Build Fluency & Accuracy
How do I teach fluency and accuracy? Whether you tutor a low-level or more advanced student, these speaking fluency activities for ESL learners help them communicate better in English. You can use these activities as warm-ups, fillers, and whenever you feel that your student needs them. Click on the link above for a detailed explanation of these activities.
Fluency:
- Small Talk
- Photos
- Don't Stop Talking
- Tell & Retell
- Problem Solving
- Role Play
Accuracy:
- Drills
- Guessing Games
- Dialogues
- Guess & Draw
| 
