How to Design Communicative Speaking Activities in the
ESL Classroom
Teaching speaking is one of the most exciting and meaningful
aspects of English language teaching. Students often come to English classes
hoping to communicate, share ideas, and express themselves confidently.
However, many teachers struggle to create speaking activities that are truly
communicative and not just repetitive drills.
Communicative speaking activities focus on real
communication rather than memorizing language forms. In these activities,
students need to use language to complete a purpose—solve a problem, share an
opinion, convince someone, describe something, or work together on a task. The
aim is interaction, fluency, and meaning.
In this post, we will explore what communicative speaking
activities are, why they matter, and how to design them effectively for your
classroom.
What Are Communicative Speaking Activities?
Communicative speaking activities are classroom tasks that
require students to use language to exchange real information and achieve a
clear goal. The main focus is meaning and communication, not just
accuracy or grammar.
For example:
|
Non-Communicative Task |
Communicative Task |
|
Students repeat sentences or read dialogues. |
Students work in pairs to role-play a real situation
(e.g., ordering food). |
|
Students answer grammar questions about speaking. |
Students discuss opinions and try to reach an agreement. |
In communicative tasks, students must talk, listen,
understand, and respond. They negotiate meaning, which develops
real fluency and confidence.
Why Are Communicative Speaking Activities Important?
- They
build real communication skills.
Students practice speaking with a purpose, just like in real life. - They
help students become more confident.
Frequent meaningful talking reduces fear and hesitation. - They
encourage collaboration.
Learning happens socially—students learn from each other. - They
develop fluency as well as accuracy.
Fluency improves when students speak more and think less about “being correct.” - They
are fun and motivating.
Speaking tasks can be engaging, creative, and enjoyable.
Key Principles for Designing Communicative Speaking Activities
To create effective speaking tasks, consider the following
principles:
1. Provide a Clear Purpose for Speaking
Students speak when they have a reason to speak. The
task should require real communication, such as:
- Solving
a problem
- Persuading
a partner
- Completing
a puzzle
- Deciding
something as a group
2. Encourage Interaction
Students should speak with each other, not only with
the teacher. Activities should promote:
- Pair
work
- Small
group work
- Cooperative
conversation
3. Create Information Gaps
An information gap means one student knows something
the other does not, so they must talk to complete the task.
Example:
Student A has a schedule, Student B has missing details. They must ask each
other to complete it.
4. Keep Teacher Talking Time (TTT) Low
The teacher should guide, observe, support—not dominate the
conversation.
5. Teach Useful Language Beforehand
Before speaking, give students phrases they can use:
- I
think that…
- Could
you explain that again?
- In
my opinion…
- I
agree / I disagree because…
This helps students speak more fluently and confidently.
Steps to Design an Effective Communicative Speaking Activity
Follow this simple structure:
Step 1: Choose a Topic
Select something interesting and relevant to your students:
- Social
media
- Travel
- School
life
- Food
- Personal
goals
Step 2: Set a Real-Life Speaking Goal
Examples:
- Debate
a topic
- Plan
an event
- Describe
a picture to a partner
- Present
personal experiences
Step 3: Pre-teach Vocabulary and Expressions
Introduce key phrases students may need during the task. Do
not over-teach—just provide enough to support communication.
Step 4: Explain the Task Clearly
Students should know:
- What
they need to do
- Who
they will work with
- What
the final outcome should be (a decision, a plan, a report, etc.)
Step 5: Let Students Speak
The teacher observes, listens, and supports. Avoid
interrupting for mistakes—fluency comes first.
Step 6: Feedback and Reflection
After the activity:
- Comment
on good communication strategies
- Highlight
common language errors
- Allow
students to reflect: What was easy? What was difficult?
Examples of Communicative Speaking Activities
1. Information Gap Activity
Topic: Daily Routines
Instructions: Partner A has a schedule with missing details. Partner B
has the missing information. They must ask and answer questions to complete the
schedule.
2. Role-Play
Topic: At the Restaurant
One student is the waiter, the other is the customer. They act out ordering
food, dealing with a mistake, and paying the bill.
3. Opinion Sharing
Topic: Should schools ban smartphones?
Students discuss their opinions in pairs or groups and try to reach a group
agreement.
4. Problem-Solving Task
Topic: Lost in the City
Groups receive a map and must plan how to reach a destination with limited
directions.
5. Show and Tell
Students bring an object from home or show an image on their
phone and talk about it for one minute.
Tips for Ensuring Successful Speaking Activities
- Use pair
work to maximize talking time.
- Change
partners often to encourage interaction.
- Make
sure the task is not too difficult.
- Reduce
anxiety by creating a friendly and supportive environment.
- Praise
effort, not perfection.
- Avoid
correcting mistakes during speaking—save correction for after the task.
Conclusion
Designing communicative speaking activities is essential for
developing students’ fluency, confidence, and communication skills. By giving
learners meaningful tasks, a reason to speak, and the language support they
need, teachers can transform English speaking classrooms into active, engaging
learning environments.
Communicative tasks bring the language to life. They help
students move beyond memorization and into real expression—where language
becomes a tool for connecting, understanding, and sharing.
