Improving oral skills

 Hello my people,

In this post, I will show you the steps we took in preparing a project for improving oral skills with my students. The project, titled "Improve Your Oral Skills," allowed students to explore different ways to enhance their speaking abilities, and I used a variety of interactive tools to support their learning. Here is a detailed breakdown of the stages, decisions, and reflections that guided the project.

1. The first step was to choose the topic of the project. I wanted to ensure the students were motivated and excited about improving their oral skills, so I gave them the freedom to choose from a variety of topics related to real-world communication. We discussed the importance of oral skills in different contexts such as interviews, presentations, and social interactions. Afterward, the students formed groups of 2-3, which helped them collaborate effectively.

2. Once the groups were formed, they selected the modality in which they would present their project. Options included creating a presentation, making a game, or designing an infographic.

3. Next, students had to plan and organize their projects. I provided them with a project planner (which I will share below) to help them break down tasks, set deadlines, and assign roles within their groups. 

4. The students worked on their projects. They used tools like Genially for creating presentations or interactive games, or Canva for infographics. This stage took two sessions.

5. The final stage was the presentation of their work. Students presented their projects to the class using the modality they had chosen. This was followed by a brief reflection session using a rubric where we discussed what went well and what could be improved.

On the other hand, when forming the groups, I allowed students to choose their own partners, but I also made some changes to make sure that each group had a mix of strengths. For example, I ensured that groups had at least one student who was confident with English and presentation skills, another who was good at research, and one who was better and technology and could handle the technical aspects of using digital tools.

As for the timing, I allocated approximately 1 week for the entire project (5 sessions). This allowed students enough time to plan, develop, and refine their work. We had regular check-ins during class to ensure progress and address any challenges they encountered.

To guide students throughout the project, I provided the following materials:

  1. Project planner: document that helped students break down the steps of the project, set deadlines, and assign roles within the group. 

  2. Rubric: a clear rubric outlining the criteria for the project, which included creativity, clarity of speech, teamwork, and use of technology.

  3. Online resources, videos, audios and texts which explained the main points of real-communication and oral skills. 

Using digital tools like Genially and Canva has been incredibly beneficial in optimizing my students' learning experiences. These tools allowed students to express their creativity and helped them better organize their ideas visually, which is essential when working on oral communication. The project also fostered collaboration, as students had to discuss ideas and present them to others, improving their speaking and listening skills. I tried to explain that they had to speak in English as much as possible and we also had the support of the language assistant from the USA that is now at the high school.

The use of these tools not only made the project more engaging but also allowed students to become more comfortable with digital literacy, which is an important skill in today's world. 

Looking back, I think the project was a success, but I would consider giving students even more time for the presentation phase. Some students were nervous about presenting and might have benefited from a little more prep time. I would also encourage even more peer-to-peer feedback during the planning stage, and not only at the end.

Overall, the project was a great success in helping students improve their oral skills while also giving them the freedom to explore and create in ways that matched their interests. 

Here you can see the amazing presentation of one of the groups:

Comentarios

  1. Gema CL30 de marzo de 2025, 9:43

    Hello Carmen,
    I enjoyed reading your blog. The activities are well-structured and engaging, making language learning more dynamic for students. I especially liked your choice of Edpuzzle for the Final Task—I think it is an excellent tool for developing comprehension skills.
    I noticed that you integrate the flipped classroom approach in some activities, encouraging students to engage with the content at home and participate more actively in class.
    You explain your activities in great detail, making it easier for other teachers to apply similar methods in their classrooms.
    I also appreciate the strong focus on skill development, particularly oral communication.
    However, one area for improvement could be the visual presentation of the blog. Adding more images, infographics, or even short video clips would make the posts more engaging and easier to follow. It would also be interesting to read more about student reactions—how they felt about the activities, any challenges they faced, and how they overcame them.
    Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

    ResponderEliminar

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