Overview of Treatment of Speaking in Second Language Teaching Methods

Method/Approach	Treatment of Speaking
Grammar Translation	No speaking or listening is required of students
Audio-Lingual Method (ALM)	Focus on speech with heavy reliance on repetition and oral drills
Direct Method and Situational Language Teaching	Teacher does much of the talking; students engage in many controlled speaking activities centered on specific topics of situations
Silent Way	Teacher rarely speaks while students engage in speaking activities centered around grammatically sequenced forms.
Suggestopedia	Students listen to reading of dialogs or “concerts” by the teacher and later engage in controlled or guided speaking activities
Community Language Learning	Teacher acts as “human computer” to translate what the learner wishes to say in the target language
Comprehension Approach	Emphasize development of listening and reading skills; little attention to speaking and writing
Natural Approach	Early emphasis on listening comprehension with delayed guided speaking activities
Total Physical Response (TPR)	Students rarely speak but use physical actions to demonstrate listening comprehension
Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)	Focus on speech for communication; use of variety of authentic speaking activities
Task Based	Speech centers around authentic tasks needed to accomplish real-world tasks

* Note: The table is from Butler-Pascoe, M. E. & Wiburg, K. M. (2003), Technology and teaching English language learners, p. 98. (based on Murphy, 1991, pp. 52-53).