Nowadays, speaking fluently in a foreign language represents one of the essential requirements in today’s society. The ability to speak in a spontaneous manner using the second language contributes a great impact to maximize the communication skills of an individual especially the non-native speakers. On the other hand, the competence in speaking the English language requires understanding and speaking without thinking.

In teaching English, as one of the productive skills, speaking activity should focus on how to assist students on how to use and how to communicate in the language. This is used by the students to evaluate their success in language learning as well as the effectiveness of their English course on the basis of how much they feel if they have improved in their speaking proficiency. That is why teachers’ efforts should be focused on developing student’s ability to speak since learning to speak is considered as the greatest challenge to all language learners. In this sense, teachers have to provide more activities to their students that will help them improve their fluency. On the contrary, it is not guaranteed that everyone can be fluent to speak the English language. There are some contributing factors that affect the fluency in speech production of the students. EFL ( English as Foreign Language) students tend to fail to join the English discussion because of their limited vocabulary words. Because of this factor, they fear to commit mistakes and to be embarrassed in front of the people. This results to their inability to use the language and a stressful activity for them. Some factors include disinterest and lack of self- confidence. If these problems continue to exist, students will no longer learn to speak English because it was not given remedy ahead of time.

Yet, in very underlying problem, there are corresponding solutions to address these varieties of difficulties. First, the teachers should identify the strengths and weaknesses of the students with regard to the difficulties they encounter. He/ she will serve as the facilitator to aid the students for the development of communication skills. It could be done by means of conducting activities for fluency improvement. Such activities are film showing, mock interviews and attending seminars to broaden the spectrum of knowledge. These may open up a room of willingness and interest for them.

 Generally, fluency increases learner’s progress to become proficient speakers of English. If a speaker knows to be converse spontaneously with comprehension, it is rest assured that he/ she is a fluent speaker of the language.

Reference

Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G. and Svartvik, J. (1985) A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman

By: Camille Anne C. Geronia