ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP LISTENING AND SPEAKING SKILLS

Activities to Develop Listening and Speaking Skills (LS Skills)

1. Pedagogical Foundation

Language learning is primarily skill-based and experiential. Listening and speaking are the first natural modes of language acquisition and form the foundation for reading and writing. Learners understand spoken language before they produce it, and meaningful speech develops through continuous listening exposure.

Effective listening and speaking activities should:

• follow a natural progression from listening to speaking
• be contextual and meaningful
• provide frequent practice opportunities
• build confidence through gradual participation
• encourage interaction rather than memorisation

PART A: ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP LISTENING SKILLS

1. Listen and Do (Action-Based Listening)

Explanation:
In this activity, learners listen to spoken instructions and respond through physical action. Language is understood through movement rather than verbal response.

Classroom Example:
Teacher gives commands such as:

• “Stand up.”
• “Touch your head.”
• “Open your notebook.”

Learners listen carefully and perform the actions.

Educational Value:

• Helps beginners understand meaning without translation
• Reduces anxiety
• Strengthens listening comprehension

2. Listening to Stories

Explanation:
Story listening involves learners listening attentively to a narrated story without reading the text. The focus is on understanding meaning, sequence, and message.

Classroom Example:
Teacher narrates a short story like The Clever Crow.
After listening, students answer:

• Who was thirsty?
• How did the crow solve the problem?

Educational Value:

• Develops listening for general understanding
• Enhances imagination and vocabulary
• Improves concentration

3. Sound Discrimination (Listen and Identify)

Explanation:
Learners listen to similar-sounding words to identify differences in pronunciation.

Classroom Example:

• ship / sheep
• bat / bet

Educational Value:

• Improves pronunciation awareness
• Develops phonetic sensitivity
• Helps learners avoid common pronunciation errors

4. Audio / Audio-Visual Listening

Explanation:
Learners listen to recorded materials such as songs, rhymes, or conversations. Visual support may also be used.

Classroom Example:
Teacher plays a short dialogue and asks:

• Who is speaking?
• What is the conversation about?

Educational Value:

• Familiarises learners with natural speech
• Improves listening accuracy
• Enhances interest and motivation

5. Listening for Specific Information

Explanation:
Learners listen with a specific purpose, such as identifying names, places, or numbers.

Classroom Example:
Teacher reads:
“Ravi lives in Cuttack. He studies in Class 6.”

• Where does Ravi live?
• Which class does he study in?

PART B: ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP SPEAKING SKILLS

1. Imitation and Repetition

Explanation:
Learners repeat words or sentences spoken by the teacher.

Teacher: “Good morning, teacher.”
Students repeat in chorus and individually.

Educational Value:

• Builds confidence
• Improves pronunciation and fluency

2. Pair Talk / Turn and Talk

Explanation:
Learners speak in pairs using guided questions.

• What is your name?
• What is your favourite food?

Educational Value:

• Encourages interaction
• Develops conversational skills
• Increases speaking time

3. Role Play (Situational Speaking)

Explanation:
Learners act out real-life situations using English.

• Buying things at a shop
• Asking for help at a bus stop
• Speaking to a teacher in school

Educational Value:

• Develops real-life communication skills
• Encourages natural use of language
• Builds confidence

4. Picture Description

Explanation:
Learners observe a picture and describe what they see using simple sentences.

• What can you see?
• Who are the people?
• What are they doing?

5. Storytelling by Students

Explanation:
Learners narrate stories or personal experiences in their own words.

“Tell the class about your best friend.”

6. Show and Tell

Explanation:
Learners bring an object and speak briefly about it.

“This is my pencil. It is blue. I use it every day.”

7. Group Discussion

Explanation:
Learners discuss a simple topic in small groups.

• Cleanliness in school
• Importance of trees

PART C: INTEGRATED LISTENING–SPEAKING ACTIVITIES

Listen and Respond: Teacher asks questions orally and learners respond verbally.
✔ Develops listening comprehension and immediate speaking.

Information Gap Activity: One learner has information; the other asks questions to obtain it.
✔ Promotes purposeful communication.

Rhymes and Songs: Listening → Singing → Speaking.
✔ Improves pronunciation, rhythm, and confidence.

Role of the Teacher

• Create a fear-free classroom
• Encourage participation from all learners
• Treat errors as part of learning
• Provide opportunities for maximum learner talk
• Guide rather than dominate classroom interaction

Conclusion

Listening and speaking skills develop best when learners are exposed to meaningful, interactive, and activity-based classroom practices. Systematic use of listening and speaking activities helps learners become confident listeners and effective speakers, making language learning natural, enjoyable, and purposeful.