Another Definition of Speaking Ability and Another Categorization of Communication Strategies

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Published: Jan 1, 2015

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Korapin Paranapiti
Punchalee Wasanasomsithi

Abstract

This paper aims to reconsider the definition of English speaking ability and what is entailed in assisting language teachers to plan how to enhance the speaking ability of students who use English as a foreign language as well as in assisting learners to develop their speaking ability. The paper first discusses the importance of speaking ability and reviews how the skill has been taught. A survey of the relevant literature on speaking ability is presented before an alternative definition of speaking ability is proposed. Further, the paper focuses on communication strategies with a review of related literature after which an alternative categorization of communication strategies is proposed with special attention given to achievement strategies. It is hoped that by reading the paper, EFL teachers will be motivated to integrate communication strategies in their language instruction so as to develop EFL learners’ speaking ability.

Article Details

Issue
No. 1 (2015): Thoughts 2015
Section
Articles

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Author Biographies

Korapin Paranapiti

Korapin Paranapiti, PhD, is a full-time English instructor in the Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Humanities, Kasetsart University, Bangkhen Campus. She is interested in strategy instruction, learning strategies, communication strategies, confident L2 use, and multiple intelligences.

Punchalee Wasanasomsithi

Punchalee Wasanasomsithi holds a doctorate in Language Education from Indiana University, U.S.A. She has been teaching EFL to undergraduate and graduate students at the Language Institute of Chulalongkorn University for more than two decades and is currently the director of the English as an International Language Program of Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University. Her areas of research interest include language acquisition, learning strategies, and learning and assessment literacy.

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