The application of communicative activities to develop speaking skills for 10th graders in Son Tay High school-Hanoi

Abstract

In recent years, English has been considered one of the most important subjects, and is a compulsory subject in Vietnamese schools. However, there are many problems facing the students when they communicate. Among them, the problem of oral communication seems to be the most serious one. The need to develop speaking skills for learners of English in general and students at Vietnamese schools in particular, is greater than ever before. Son Tay High School, one of the best high schools in Hanoi, for the last five years has encouraged its teaching staff to apply the communicative approach in language teaching and learning. Much attention has been paid to developing students’ listening and speaking skills by using communicative activities in speaking classes. The application of communicative activities in teaching English speaking to 10th graders in this school has inspired my writing of this study report as an attempt to search for more effective ways in developing students’ speaking skills.This study aims to find out: * Which communicative activities can make the speaking lessons more effective. * What obstacles the teachers and students have faced in their speaking lessons. The research approach undertaken by this study is mostly quantitative. Two data collection instruments are used: Survey Questionnaire and Classroom observation. The results gained from the questionnaires for teachers and students and classroom observation show the application of communicative activities at Son Tay High School. The research study has also found out some difficulties the teachers and students face in their speaking lessons. Finally, in terms of communicative language teaching implication, this study suggests some of recommendations for more effective application of the communicative activities in developing students’ speaking skills.