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TeachingEnglish: How to teach speaking

Develop your understanding of speaking skills and explore teaching techniques and activities that promote oral communication in the classroom for a range of ages and levels. This course is open now – enrol until 23 September.

A Black teacher and a learner in a wheelchair smiling at each other. There are other learners of different genders and ethnic backgrounds sitting at the same table.
TeachingEnglish
Understanding
9–12 hours
Start: 03/04/25
End: 30/09/25
Certificate
Workbook
Online community

How will the course help you?

By the end of How to teach speaking, you'll be able to:

  • evaluate and adapt activities to promote meaningful communication
  • adapt tasks to maximise learner interaction
  • identify and justify appropriate speaking activities that effectively support specific lesson objectives.

How can you enrol on the course?

Register for a free TeachingEnglish account or log in to your account.

Enrol on this free course

What does the course include?

  • Self-study modules that you can access at any time before the course closes
  • A certificate of achievement on successful completion of the self-study modules
  • A free workbook with extra learning content and resources connected to the course contents
  • A dedicated Facebook community of course participants with up-to-date insight, resources and innovative teaching ideas for you to try out (Facebook account required)
  • Learning content related to our courses on Facebook and YouTube
  • Live events and recordings with course tutors and language teaching experts on Facebook and YouTube

What are the self-study modules?

Module 1 – Understanding speaking – key terms and issues

The aim of this module is to explore key terms and issues in the teaching of speaking. You'll look at how to evaluate and modify activities in terms of communicative quality, and consider how to get your learners using 'real speaking', not just completing grammar tasks.

Module 2 – Understanding speaking – maximising interaction

The aim of this module is to introduce you to a range of techniques and activities which promote speaking in your classroom. You'll look at the benefits of pair and group work and adapt tasks to maximise learner interaction.

Module 3 – Understanding language practice activities

The aim of this module is to explore and evaluate a range of practice activities. The module also looks at flexible activities that can be adapted for different ages and levels. You have the opportunity to select appropriate activities which match with lesson aims, and justify your choices.

Course reviews

What have other teachers said about how How to teach speaking helped them?

"Today, I taught a beginner class how to participate in a role-play activity for the first time. Instead of giving them instructions and then moving on straight to the speaking activity, I extended the speaking practice by eliciting what a role-play is, and brainstorming possible situations and roles reducing teacher speaking time. Also, after the role-play I extended the activity by asking them how they felt during the role-play encouraging them to express their personality and inout on the activity."

Course participant, Argentina

"After learning about the importance of fluency-focused activities, I started including short speaking tasks earlier in my lessons instead of leaving them until the end. For example, I now use pair discussions or role-plays in the middle of class to give students more time to practise speaking freely. This has helped boost their confidence and made lessons more interactive."

Course participant, Malaysia

"The British Council, TeachingEnglish course on how to teach speaking was very insightful.  For example, I learned the importance of using communicative activities like role-plays in speaking lessons. I now regularly incorporate role-plays into my daily classes, allowing students to practice real-life conversations in a supportive environment to boost their confidence and helps improve their speaking skills more effectively."

Course participant, Nigeria

Do you have more questions?

Please see our FAQs or access further support through our Help button.

Downloads
File attachments
How to teach speaking workbook 20251.09 MB
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Comments

Submitted by mviro66 on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 19:08

I´ve already enrolled and I´m trying to solve the first module. The fact is that I find impossible to move statements to order or to match definitions. Can anyone explain me how to do it, please? It doesn+t seem to be the usual way. Thanks in advance

 

Submitted by Sai Shen Mine on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 15:51

I am an online teacher. Interested in teaching this course. 

Submitted by Amanu on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 15:26

I am having issues opening the teaching speaking course. I logged in but could not find ‘my portfolio’ or ‘my courses’ option. 

Hello Amanu

If you are logged in now - you should be able to see the "My Portfolio" tab in the top left hand corner of this page (next to the Homepage icon) - if you can't see this, you are not logged in.

Once you have logged in, follow the instructions above, and you will be able to enrol.

Thanks

Cath
TE Team

Submitted by Luz Marina on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 12:32

Hi everybody! I've just enrolled and finished Module 1 from this course on Teaching Speaking. Thanks! 

Submitted by Dariko on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 12:26

I am a teacher at school. I really like to follow this course because I am really interested for British Council courses. 

Submitted by mal893081malika on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 11:18

I glad to inform you that I successfully enrolled to the course. Greetings from Uzbekistan

Submitted by sulabha sidhaye on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 09:04

I would like to crosscheck the start time of the course

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 09:35

Hi sulabha

The course begins on 11 January 2022 and lasts for four weeks. You can enrol any time up until 31 January 2022. Remember this is a self-access course, so you can complete the activities at a time that is convenient for you.

Cath

TE Team

Hi Dilfuza,

Please follow the 6 steps above to enrol in the course. You need to create an account and then make sure you are logged in.  Then go to the courses homepage,  (click on the tab "My Portfolio" and then "My courses"), then click on the Home tab in the top left hand corner. You can then see two tabs "Your week ahead", "Your learning" and, to the right, a green tab "Explore all courses". If you click there, you should see all the available courses. Then you can click on "Enrol in activity". 

If you are still have problems, please can you report them using the orange "Help" button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen?

Hope that helps!

Cath 
TE Team

Submitted by arthur on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 08:36

Hi all.

I cannot find an enrolment button available on the website. Is there another way of registering? I would really like to attend it.

Best,

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 09:33

Hi 

Please follow the 6 steps above to enrol in the course. You need to create an account and then make sure you are logged in.  Then go to the courses homepage,  (click on the tab "My Portfolio" and then "My courses"), then click on the Home tab in the top left hand corner. You can then see two tabs "Your week ahead", "Your learning" and, to the right, a green tab "Explore all courses". If you click there, you should see all the available courses. Then you can click on "Enrol in activity". 

If you are still have problems, please can you report them using the orange "Help" button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen?

Hope that helps!

Cath 
TE Team

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 09:32

Hi Luba

The course begins on 11 January 2022 and lasts for four weeks. You can enrol any time up until 31 January 2022. Remember this is a self-access course, so you can complete the activities at a time that is convenient for you.
Thanks

Cath
TE Team

Submitted by Rebeca Rocha on Tue, 01/11/2022 - 00:56

Hello there!

I went through all the steps but step number 3 isn't working. Could you help me, please?

Hi Rebeca

Are you logged into your account? If so, if you click on the link in step 3 it will take you to the "Explore courses" page - I've just checked and it is working fine. Alternatively, if you click on "My Portfolio" on the top left of your menu, you can also access the courses page. Click on "home" and then you will see an "Explore all courses" tab - from there you can see all available courses. Make sure you are logged in. If you still can't access the page, perhaps try with a different web browser. 

Hope that helps

Cath
TE Team

Submitted by Zdravka Angelova on Mon, 01/10/2022 - 15:55

Hello everyone

Hello Aya Aljaly

You need to follow steps 1-6 above. Make sure first you create an account and are logged in, then you need to access the course page by clicking  on "My Portfolio" in the top left of your menu. If you then go to the home page, you will see a tab on the top right "Explore all courses" - you will see all available courses there, and you can click on "Enrol in activity" for the courses you are interested in.

Thanks,

Cath 
TE Team

Submitted by David Abayatey… on Mon, 01/10/2022 - 02:14

David Abayateye Lomotey is my name . I am highly honoured to be part of this class.

Submitted by Jokkome on Sun, 01/09/2022 - 08:11

Hello everyone,

I'm John from Ivory Coast. Happy to be here.

Submitted by Dhammika Godha… on Sat, 01/08/2022 - 16:57

Teaching speaking is one of the most challenging yet one of the most needed area for an English Language teacher. Thanks for offering this course free of charge.

Submitted by Benadette on Sat, 01/08/2022 - 15:52

I am excited to follow these course with the British council. I believe they are standard courses. Will like to be part of it.thank you

Submitted by S R Issur-Goorah on Sat, 01/08/2022 - 09:03

Hello. The date is 11 January but the GMT is not specified. Pl advise. Thanks. 

Hello

The course will be available from 11th January, but, as this is a self-access course, there is no fixed time.  You will be able to access the content whenever you like from that date.

Hope you enjoy the course,

Cath

TE Team

Hi Magdalena

To enrol on the course, you need to follow the 6 steps above. 

If you have created your account, go to the courses homepage,  (click on the tab "My Portfolio" and then "My courses"), then click on the Home tab in the top left hand corner. You can then see two tabs "Your week ahead", "Your learning" and, to the right, a green tab "Explore all courses". If you click there, you should see all the available courses. Then you can click on "Enrol in activity". 

If you are still have problems, please can you report them using the orange "Help" button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen?

Hope that helps!

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 01/10/2022 - 12:04

Hi Andrea,

To enrol on the course, you need to follow the 6 steps above. 

If you have created your account, go to the courses homepage,  (click on the tab "My Portfolio" and then "My courses"), then click on the Home tab in the top left hand corner. You can then see two tabs "Your week ahead", "Your learning" and, to the right, a green tab "Explore all courses". If you click there, you should see all the available courses. Then you can click on "Enrol in activity". 

If you are still have problems, please can you report them using the orange "Help" button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen?

Hope that helps!

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by mariaelena.castorino on Fri, 01/07/2022 - 07:14

Hi, I followed all the steps indicated to enrol this course, infortunately with no success. Could you please tell me why? Was there a deadline I don't know? Let me know, thanx advance 

Hello

Can you access the courses homepage? (click on the tab "My Portfolio" and then "My courses"). If so, then you need to click on the Home tab in the top left hand corner. You can then see two tabs "Your week ahead", "Your learning" and, to the right, a green tab "Explore all courses". If you click there, you should see all the available courses. Then you can click on "Enrol in activity". 

If you are still have problems,  please can you report them using the orange "Help" button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen?

Hope that helps!

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by susangeorgevilloth on Fri, 01/07/2022 - 04:29

Hello, I've followed all steps to create an account, click on home button, select course, but after that can't find where to enrol for the course. Is this because the course is scheduled to start on 11 January? Would appreciate your assistance. Thank you.

Hello,

If you are logged in and on the courses homepage, you need to click on the green tab on the right hand side "Explore all courses" - you should be able to see all available courses there - including this one. You should be able to click on "Enrol in activity". If you are still having problems, please contact technical support by using the orange "Help" button in the bottom right corner of the course page.

Thanks,

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by milton.pereira on Fri, 01/07/2022 - 02:53

Hello there! 
I'm having hard time to enroll. I've followed the recconmmended steps but nothing so far. By any chance, can you help me?

Hi GLF5,

If you have created your account, go to the courses homepage,  (click on the tab "My Portfolio" and then "My courses"), then click on the Home tab in the top left hand corner. You can then see two tabs "Your week ahead", "Your learning" and, to the right, a green tab "Explore all courses". If you click there, you should see all the available courses. Then you can click on "Enrol in activity". 

If you are still have problems, please can you report them using the orange "Help" button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen?

Hope that helps!

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by PennyYsceifiog on Thu, 01/06/2022 - 17:18

I have enrolled on the course and I am looking forward to starting. I am hoping many of the activities will be suitable or adaptable for the online classroom, as this is how I deliver most of my lessons.

Submitted by Amadu Lamarana Bah on Thu, 01/06/2022 - 16:59

Iam Amadu Lamarana Bah Guinean by nationality also member of the British Council course 

Today my aim is obtain, to get a standard certificate from the British Council 

Submitted by RosieMahmood on Thu, 01/06/2022 - 09:52

Hello, 

 

I am a member and does not allow me to enroll, I followed the instructions but there is not such a place to take you to enroll on your free course. 

 

Thanks in advance, 

Rosie 

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Fri, 01/07/2022 - 09:09

Hello Rosie,

If you have created your account, go to the courses homepage,  (click on the tab "My Portfolio" and then "My courses"), then click on the Home tab in the top left hand corner. You can then see two tabs "Your week ahead", "Your learning" and, to the right, a green tab "Explore all courses". If you click there, you should see all the available courses. Then you can click on "Enrol in activity". 

If you are still have problems, please can you report them using the orange "Help" button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen?

Hope that helps!

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Paula Lima on Wed, 01/05/2022 - 23:31

Hi!

I'd like to get some more details about the course schedule: the days and the time in which it is going to take place.

Thank you!

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Thu, 01/06/2022 - 09:30

Hi Paula

This course is self-access, which means once you have enrolled you can complete the course in your own time - there is no schedule as such. The course material will only be available for four weeks though, so you will need to complete the content within that time.  You can enrol and start the course up until January 31st.

Hope that helps, and enjoy the course!
 

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Malal Diallo on Wed, 01/05/2022 - 19:39

Hello, I've come up to a point but I don't really know how to enrol in the course. I need help

 

Hello Malol

You need to follow steps 1-6 above. First, you need to create an account, clicking on the link in step 1. If you have created your account, go to the courses homepage, then click on the Home tab in the top left hand corner. You can then see two tabs "Your week ahead", "Your learning" and, to the right, a green tab "Explore all courses". If you click there, you should see all the available courses- Then you can click on "Enrol in activity". 

If you are still have problems, please can you report them using the orange "Help" button in the bottom right hand corner of the screen?

Hope that helps!

Cath

TE Team

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