Experience report: designing and implementing pre-intermediate speaking activities at an english language course in Fortaleza/CE

Abstract

Speaking activities play a crucial role in the development of communicative competence. For this, it is imperative for teachers to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves and engaging with the language structures. In today's context, many individuals have a basic understanding of the English language, even with a limited vocabulary. Leveraging their existing knowledge during lessons can significantly boost students' self-esteem and foster authentic responses to the activities. Without a nurturing environment that encourages expression, learning a foreign language becomes a daunting task. Based on these considerations, I have undertaken an analysis of my own experiences in managing speaking activities within a language learning course in Fortaleza, CE. In this study, I will outline the approaches employed to optimize students' communicative skills and discuss the challenges they encountered in the process.