General Overview on Speaking Skill

 

The Speaking Skill 

Speaking is one of the most important components in English proficiency, which is highly recommended to learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) to acquire, especially those who need special abilities. To confirm this, both Goh and Burns (2012: 15) state that speaking can facilitate language acquisition and contribute towards the academic development of many second language learners (SLL). Also, it is not a simple skill; the mastery of learning a language including English is a priority for many EFL learners in which they require some experience and practice. Luoma (2004: 01) says that speaking in a foreign language is very difficult and competence in speaking takes a long time to develop.

Definition of Speaking Skill

Speaking is one of the four learning skills. Moreover, it is considered by many scholars and applied linguists as the most important skill that enables EFL learners to acquire the language. As Goh and Burns (2012: 63) say that speaking in a second language is a demanding process for language learners. Also, this skill permits those learners to become able to send and receive messages clearly. In order to acquire certain efficient competencies in mastering the target language (TL), the speaking skill needs to have a good position in the learners’ curriculum. Therefore, it deserves further attention in teaching EFL because it reflects people’s thoughts and personalities.

The Importance of Speaking Skill

The main aim of English language teaching should be giving students the ability to accomplish English effectively and accurately in communication because the skill of speaking has a major role in speech community specially the EFL speakers. Nunan (1991: 39) elicits that mastering the art of speaking is the sing

le most important aspect of learning a second or foreign language, and success is measured in terms of the ability to carry out a conversation in the language. So, most of EFL learners give the speaking skill priority in their second language (L2) learning because the one who is competent in this skill, will be considered as if s/he has mastered all the other skills.

Features of Speaking

There are two essential aspects that can ascertain the success of EFL learners: fluency and accuracy are both needed to accomplish the goal of enhancing communication. Students should always practise the English language as much as they can in order to be able to use it more appropriately and effectively. Thus, accuracy and fluency are the basic features of speaking performance. These, remain as aspects that determine the success of English learners in future, they are not neutrally exclusive, but are interdependent Lindsay and Knight (2006) (as cited in Bachiri, 2012: 14).