USING SPEECH ACTIVITY THEORY TO IMPROVE SPEAKING ENGLISH IN CLASS

Abstract

The most important purpose of teaching a foreign language is to help learners use the language. “Use” here focuses on speaking and writing skills - the ability to express ideas in everyday communication. Many students have difficulty in using English in their classrooms as well as in everyday life. That is because English education in school doesn't achieve the desired objectives causing big challenges for the educators. There are many reasons, but lacking the language practice environment is the main one. In certain condition, ability and amount of time, teachers can create English language environment in class by applying speech activity theory. According to L.X Vygotsky, language has nature of activity and speech is activity. With the theory, teachers should create the demand of speech activity to motivate the need and interest to speak. Then students use English as a real need to satisfy their communication purpose.