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Keep Talking! Assessing of Speaking and People Skills in Language Classroom -- A Case Study Dr. Akkara Sherine Can you imagine the freedom the students enjoy in classroom and the skills acquired when they are allowed to “Keep Talking”? Guided activities in the language Page | 188 classrooms, discussion on topics, arguments, engaging in debates, role-plays develop communication skills and people skills. The interactive sessions and discipline in class can strike a balance if the facilitator plays an important role in monitoring the activities in an effective manner. The area of this research study was taken up by the researcher after observing that the first year engineering students were not assessed for their speaking skills in the language classroom. This paper gives an elaborate account of the efforts of the researcher implementing Keep Talking Training (KTT) Module, in the language classroom. The (KTT) module comprised activities and tasks integrating cooperative learning technique so as to develop speaking and enhancing people skills in an explicit manner. The paper also deals with effective evaluation techniques employed in the classroom assessing English language proficiency and people skills. What is the Need for Explicit Training in Skills? College life and academic community have changed rapidly during the last decade and several attempts are being made by the academicians to make formal education tailored to suit the work sector needs. Higher educational institutions are one of the key players in identifying and enhancing the skill requisites of the students who are the prospective employees of the future and are responsible for success in the world of work. Regarding the inclusion of skills in higher education to improve employability, The Dearing Report of 1997 states: We believe that four skills are key to the future success of graduates whatever they intend to do in later life. These four are communication skills; numeracy; the use of information technology; learning how to learn . . . The intellectual attributes developed by higher education are needed in employment but so are other capabilities. Apart from the key skills of communication, numeracy and capability in communications and information technology, those in work increasingly need to be able to be flexible and adaptable, to work in teams, and to manage their own development and career. (3) There are a few researchers who have realized the importance of integrating people skills and communication skills in higher education and also have successfully incorporated the same in the curriculum as Personal Development Programme Keep Talking Training (KTT) Module The language syllabus of the first year engineering students at the University caters to listening, speaking, reading, and writing and thinking skills. However there is no formal assessment of speaking and people skills and activities enhancing speaking skills. The most important requisite skills by the workforce are communication and people skills. Therefore inclusion of activities developing speaking and people skills and assessing these skills must be an integral part of the language curriculum. A question that haunts academicians at present is, “How can we make academic learning more satisfying and productive in higher educational institutions so as to cater to the work force requirements?” The Keep Talking Training (KTT) module incorporated in the language classroom by the researcher, constituted several tasks and activities focusing on speaking and people skills and several evaluation techniques to assess the mastery of the specific Volume 3 Issue 1
April 2014