TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING LISTENING AND SPEAKING SKILLS IN ENGLISH
Keywords:
Keywords: Listening skills, speaking skills, English language teaching, communicative competence, authentic materials, listening comprehension, speaking fluency, pronunciation practice, interactive learning, language learning strategiesAbstract
Abstract
This article explores evidence-based and pedagogically grounded techniques for
enhancing English listening and speaking skills among second language learners.
Drawing on insights from influential works by Brown and Yule (1983), Field (2008),
and Richards (2008), as well as from practical teaching resources such as the Active
Listening series, Jean Yates’s English Conversation, and digital platforms like Speak
English with Mr. Duncan and EnglishCentral.com, the paper highlights how
communicative competence can be cultivated through targeted strategies.Key themes
include the importance of teaching spoken English as a distinct skill set, the use of
authentic listening tasks with real-life conversational input, and the implementation of
interactive and task-based speaking activities. Process-oriented listening instruction is
emphasized as a means to develop learners’ cognitive listening abilities, while speaking
fluency is shown to improve through structured exposure to language chunks, idiomatic
expressions, and pronunciation practice.The paper also examines the value of
technology-enhanced resources and video-based learning for fostering learner
autonomy, pronunciation accuracy, and active engagement in language production.
Emphasis is placed on integrated skill development, where listening supports speaking
and vice versa, through reflective, feedback-informed pedagogy.Overall, the article
concludes that a balanced, research-informed approach that combines theoretical
foundations with engaging, authentic materials is key to advancing learners’ oral
communication abilities in English.
References
References
1. Brown, G., & Yule, G. (1983). Teaching the Spoken Language. Cambridge
University Press.
2. Field, J. (2008). Listening in the Language Classroom. Cambridge University Press.
3. Richards, J. C. (2008). Teaching Listening and Speaking: From Theory to Practice.
Cambridge University Press.
4. “Active Listening” series – Cambridge University Press
5. “English Conversation” – Jean Yates
6. Speak English with Mr. DuncanEnglishCentral.com