Boosting your learners' English language speaking skills

ÃÛÌÒapp Languages
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Reading time: 4 minutes

Teaching a language goes beyond imparting the rules of grammar and vocabulary. It's about unlocking the confidence in students to use that language in real-life conversations. Confidence in speaking is the bridge that connects classroom learning with the world outside.

In the era where digital solutions can complement traditional teaching methods, Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp can play a pivotal role in boosting learners' speaking confidence.

Why is it important to build students confidence?

Before we explore Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp's strengths, it's crucial to understand why speaking confidence matters. Communication is the heart of language, and confident speakers are more likely to use their language skills actively. They're more open to participating in conversations, which reinforces their learning and fosters better retention of the new language used.

Research has shown that 52% of English Learners leave their formal education without confidence in their speaking skills. Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp is your ultimate solution in tackling this challenge head-on, with 500+ minutes of English-speaking practice to build your learners' skills and confidence.

What causes a lack of confidence in speaking English?

There are a multitude of factors that contribute to a lack of confidence in speaking the English language well or any language for that matter. Some English learners feel self-conscious when their accent doesn't match what they perceive as the standard or desired accent.

Additionally, a lack of practice opportunities or speaking practice, especially in a supportive and constructive environment, can hinder students from becoming comfortable and fluent speakers. Understanding these challenges is the first step in overcoming them, allowing educators to tailor their teaching strategies to address these specific concerns and build a more inclusive and encouraging learning atmosphere.

What is Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp?

Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp is an English language learning application aligned to the Global Scale of English. With ÃÛÌÒapp pedagogy at its core, Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp offers over 500 minutes of speaking practice. Immersive AI-powered conversations, advanced speech recognition and engaging role plays, accelerate learning and build confidence.

Image of  phones showing the mondly by pearson app

Promoting speaking skills with Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp

To promote speaking confidence through Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp, put 500+ minutes of speaking practice in your learners' pockets. Here's how:

1. Realistic AI conversation partner

Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp allows learners to immerse themselves in AI-powered conversations to practice their English speaking. This provides a comfortable setting for learners to practice speaking and build confidence whether in or outside of the classroom. Ìý

2. Pronunciation-enhancing technology

With advanced speech recognition, Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp helps learners improve their pronunciation. Whether using the AI conversation partner or hands-free chatbot, encourage your students to repeat phrases and receive instant feedback, which is crucial for honing their pronunciation and speaking abilities.

3. Accessibility and flexibility

Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp's digital platform is accessible anytime, anywhere, with over 1,000 bite-sized English lessons. This flexibility allows students to practice all four language skills at their own pace, which is essential for building confidence.

4. Cultural immersion

Language isn't just about words; it's also about the culture it represents. Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp exposes students to cultural nuances, helping them become more comfortable listening and confident when speaking to different people.

Where to start

Begin by exploring the benefits of Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp with your students. Illustrate the connection between the digital learning experiences they love and the language skills they need. Remember, confidence in speaking forms the foundation for all aspects of language learning, and Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp is an instrument that can help lay this groundwork.Ìý

Why Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp?

Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp is your trusted classroom companion. Complement your teaching with lessons aligned with theÌýGlobal Scale of English. So, you can be sure your learners will be practicing what you've been teaching them - in or outside of the classroom.

At-a-glance dashboards with downloadable reports, allow you to monitor learners' progress in real-time.

With Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp, your learners can practice their English anytime, anywhere, once they've downloaded the app.ÌýÌýcomes with perks such as instant feedback, leaderboards and daily reminders, ensuring that your learners remain motivated and engaged.

What sets it apart is our focus on providing an immersive learning experience. With over 100 AI-powered conversations and advanced speech recognition capabilities, students get to role-play and practice their speaking skills in a safe and engaging environment.

Don't just take our word for it. Request a demo and try it for yourself.

Accelerate your learners' progress with our ​comprehensive language solution​

Discover our ÃÛÌÒapp English Journey, a comprehensive language solution that includes:
Engaging courseware, confidence-building assessment and certification to celebrate your learner's progress.

All are underpinned by theÌýGlobal Scale of English, proven to fast-track progress.ÌýÃÛÌÒapp English JourneyÌýis now complemented by Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp, the perfect classroom companion app.

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    Preparing for the PEIC YL oral test

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    Younger learners may find speaking in English comes easily to them, more so than reading and writing. However, they need to be well-prepared and familiar with what they have to do in order to be successful in an exam. Let’s look at a few ways we can prepare our students for the International Certificate Young Learners (PEIC YL) oral test and have fun along the way!

    The test

    The PEIC YL oral test includes two speaking tasks that have an emphasis on real-life communication. Throughout the four levels, the format of the speaking tasks remains the same, with questions and topics suitable for each level and age group.

    Learners take the oral test in groups of five, with one examiner, who gives instructions and assesses the learners.

    • The first speaking task consists of a question and answer activity played as a board game. In their group of five, students take turns to throw a dice and move around the board/cards. When they land on a square, they read out a question which they should direct at another student, who then responds. Each question has a corresponding picture, which helps scaffold the task and give clues to what the question means.
    • In the second task, each student gives a short talk about a topic. Students take turns to pick a topic card and then talk about the topic for one minute. The other students in the group then ask questions related to the topic.

    For both parts of the test students are assessed on their vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

    Classroom activities

    There are lots of ways in which you can prepare your learners for the test in class. The game-like format of the speaking test makes practicing the tasks an ideal end-of-lesson activity. Here are a few ideas:

    Play board games

    Playing board games will allow learners to get used to the functional language they will need to play games, e.g. "It’s your turn" / "Where’s the dice?".

    It will also give them plenty of practice in counting the squares in English, which they are expected to do in the test. You can use traditional board games designed for English language learners or make your own.

    Include questions on familiar topics such as family, clothes, or vacations.

    Make collaborative board games

    Young learners love to make things so why not have them make their own board games and cards? Put students in groups to make a board game for the other groups to play. You can provide a board template, have them write questions, and draw pictures in the squares.

    Make sure you have students write a rough draft of their questions first so that you can check for any errors. It can be helpful to write example questions and prompts on the board as a guide, e.g. 'What (sports) do you play at school?' 'How often do you …?'. Depending on the level, students will need to include questions in a variety of present/past/future tenses.

    Use student pictures

    To prepare for the short talk, give students plenty of practice at speaking for one minute. One way of making this more engaging is by having the students choose their own topics by talking about pictures they have drawn or taken.

    If students have mobile phones, you can ask them to choose a photo from the gallery and discuss it with a partner. If mobile phones are not an option, have them bring in some photos from home. These could be pictures taken on vacation, birthday parties, or at other celebrations.Ìý

    You could also write a list of topics on the board, have each student choose one, and draw a picture to illustrate it.

    Tips

    • Make sure students are used to playing board games and know rules and functional language.
    • Practice turn taking and asking/answering questions regularly.
    • Encourage students to listen carefully to questions and to read them thoroughly, paying attention to the verb forms used. They should aim to use the same verb form in their answer.
    • Give learners practice speaking in one-minute turns.
    • Use your course book unit topic to include similar speaking tasks in lessons.
    • Make a set of laminated picture cards for students to practice both parts of the test.
    • Write questions and topics on popsicle sticks or cards for fast finishers.

    The key to good test preparation is to make it a part of your regular lessons, rather than something you do in just the weeks before the test. The more familiar your students are with the tasks, the more relaxed they will be on the day of the test.