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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 Teacher Mae on Fri, 04/01/2022 - 06:51

The course is ending, and I haven't completed because I can't open "my course" for several time.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/07/2022 - 08:20

Hi,
I am so sorry to hear that the technical difficulties prevented you from opening the course to complete it. I hope that doesn't happen again for you.
Best regards,
Anne
TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by sdpcat on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 18:51

Dear all, I have tied, but seems not have a button to click on and access the course whereas the ones one pays it works.

Hello

This course has now finished and is no longer available for registration. It will be offered again later in 2022.

Thanks,

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Htun Win Lin on Sun, 03/06/2022 - 14:23

I believe the training course date has not started yet. Am I correct?
Please kindly let us know when the course will start and how to register.
Thank you in advance.

Hello Htun Win Lin

This course is now closed for registration, but we expect to run it again later in 2022. Please check back here to see when and how you can enrol.

Thanks,

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Seydou Desséry… on Sat, 03/05/2022 - 22:18

Teaching speaking is great challenge for me. English language is learnt through many situation. As an English clun leader in my community and also a teacher of English, I think to know how to teach speaking will be benefit to me.

Submitted by Su Sandy Htay on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 05:31

Hello. I tried the steps that you mentioned to enroll in the course. I went to "My course" and clicked the Explore all courses and nothing happened later. Would you please help me?

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 09:01

Hello

This course is now finished and closed for registration. It will be offered again later in 2022, so please check back.

Thanks,

Cath
TE Team

Hello,

This course is no longer available for enrolment. It will be offered again later this year, so please check back.

Thanks,
Cath
TE Team

Submitted by Ayebazibwe Chr… on Sat, 02/19/2022 - 10:58

Aspect of speech.

When Teaching speaking its often a voluntary action of a given language and ENGLISH LANGUAGE in particular. Therefore the origin of a person determines the level of language use. Therefore when we are Teaching English language, teachers must always forcus on changing the attitude of students and children towards loving the subject.

Speaking can always be more pragmatic when teachers allow students to practice it in a practical matter. This is through open air speeches and and recitation of poetry. This is a mastery technique for language speech

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 02/21/2022 - 09:06

Hello Ayebazibwe

This course is no longer available for enrolment. The course will be offered again later in 2022.

Thanks,

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Siegfried on Fri, 02/18/2022 - 02:37

I'm trying to enroll in it but I can't find how.
I think it's because it's not schedule by the moment
I have just enrolled to "How to teach pronunciation" but I want to enroll in speaking too.
Could you help me please?

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 02/21/2022 - 09:05

Hi Siegfried,

This course is no longer available for enrolment. The course will be offered again later in 2022.

Thanks,

Cath

TE Team

Hello Soyfelis50

This course is no longer available for enrolment. We expect to offer it again later in 2022.

Thanks,

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by naeem Buk on Mon, 02/14/2022 - 00:25

I want to sign up for this course, I have regsitered for this site but do not see how to sign up for this course. Thanks

Hello

This course is no longer available for enrolment. We expect to offer it again later this year, so please check back.

Cath

TE Team

Hello SwastiDhar

I'm afraid it's not possible to contact users by email individually to inform them about upcoming courses, but please check back regularly to the site, where we always update course information and upcoming events.

Thanks
Cath
TE Team

Submitted by gulienglishgul… on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 18:11

I could complete 2 modules of the course,unfortunately it was closed on 8th february,i would like to know  shall i have  opportunity to take 3rd last course about activities .

Hi teachenggulya

The course is now closed, but we expect to offer it again later this year, so you will be able to complete the final modules then.

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Janitzie on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 01:03

Hello, I was enrolled in this course and I wanted to end it today. I don't have access to it, the due date is February 8 and today is February 7, what can I do?

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 11:24

Hello Janitzie

I believe the final date for the course was 31st January. If you are enrolled, and have completed most of the course, try contacting the technical team by using the orange "Help" button on the course page.

Thanks,

Cath
TE Team

Submitted by Thammarat on Sun, 02/06/2022 - 10:13

Hello everyone

I am Tommy from Thailand. It is very invaluable and useful for me as a teacher to learn and also improve myself in language teaching.

Many effectively practical activities I have gotten out of the course.

keep going on !

thanks

 

Hi Alsu

This course is no longer available for enrolment. We expect to offer the course again later this year.

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Durdona Ruzmatova on Fri, 02/04/2022 - 16:06

Please help me to join this course. I'm afraid of missing it. I've already enrolled but there isn't any course named "How to teach speakin".

Hello

This course is no longer available for enrolment. We expect to offer it again later this year, so please check back.

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Aeschylus on Fri, 02/04/2022 - 15:11

Good day,

I enrolled and finished the online courses. is there anything else as a requirement for my certificate; I can't find it from "my award" tab

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 02/07/2022 - 09:51

Hello Aeschylus

If you have completed the course but can't access your certificate, you need to contact the technical team using the orange "Help" button on the courses homepage. They will be able to resolve this issue for you.

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Lamiaa Aamer on Thu, 02/03/2022 - 19:29

I have finished the "How to Teach Speaking" course today but I couldn't download the certificate. I tried to log out and in again to find that my progress was erased from my profile along the "How to Teach Listening" and "How to Motivate Learners" courses that I finished last year.

Please help me get back on track as I need that certificate and I don't wanna go through the courses all over again.

Best Regards,
Lamiaa

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 02/07/2022 - 09:49

Hi Lamiaa

Sorry you are having problems with getting your certificate. To resolve this issue you need to contact the technical team using the orange "Help" button in the botttom-right-hand corner of the courses page.

Thanks

Cath

TE Team

Submitted by ridha217 on Thu, 02/03/2022 - 06:57

Hello,

I would like to inform you that I was notified about acheiving the course and receiving the "Teaching pathways, How to teach speaking" Certficate, but unfortunately I cannot see it on My awards list.

My appologies if this would disturb you.

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Thu, 02/03/2022 - 13:41

Hello ridha217

If you have completed the course but have not received your certificate, please can you use the orange "Help" button on the course page to contact the technical team? They will be able to help you resolve this issue.

Thanks,
Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Abeer Hammad on Wed, 02/02/2022 - 18:06

I am really interseted in attending this course , send me forward its access 

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Thu, 02/03/2022 - 13:44

Hi Abeer

This course is now closed for enrolment. We expect it to be available again later this year.

Thanks,
Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Thu, 02/03/2022 - 13:43

Hi Teona

This course is now closed for enrolment. We expect it to be available again later this year.

Thanks,
Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Maryem on Tue, 02/01/2022 - 18:43

I tried to join this course but there is no green tab on the right. I've checked it many times and ended up with the same thing: no green tab to enroll.

Hi Maryem

This course is no longer available for enrolment. We expect to offer the course again later in the year.

Thanks,
Cath

TE Team

Submitted by Silmara Caldas on Tue, 02/01/2022 - 02:54

I created an account but can't enroll the course. Is there any other way I can try?

Submitted by soniaaravind on Mon, 01/31/2022 - 04:55

Greetings, 

I am unable to enrol for the 'learning how to teach speaking' course. I followed all the directions given in the website. However

STEP 3: Enrol on your free course by clicking the 'Enrol in activity' button. is missing.

Please guide me on how to proceed further. 

Sonia Aravind

Submitted by gbetlis on Mon, 01/31/2022 - 04:00

I finished all the activities of the course, but the certificate doesn't appear. 

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Tue, 02/01/2022 - 10:48

Hi gbetlis

Can you use the orange "Help" button in the bottom right hand corner of the page to report this problem to the technical team? They should be able to help you with getting your certificate.

Thanks,
Cath

TE Team

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