SPEAKING COMPETENCE IN AN ESP CONTEXT (A CASE STUDY OF ENGINEERING STUDENTS)

Speaking, apart from having the status of being the primary means of communication in general, it is one of the main mediums of communication in a foreign language class and at the same time, one of the key components of a foreign language syllabus. For most students, it is regarded as a skill that does not require much prior preparation, however, when taking tests, the speaking section is the one that causes the most anxiety. Learning a language does not necessarily mean speaking it. Learners need to be taught the right techniques and apply the useful strategies to be used while speaking and this is done by bearing in mind the aim one wants to achieve (narrate, summarize, give instructions, express viewpoints, justify opinions etc.) and the assessment criteria and the positive outcome of speaking. A considerable number of activities in textbooks are oriented towards speaking. To ESP students, in our case, engineering students, part of the speaking preparation, the one closely related to the lexicon, is covered with the introduction of the field-related terminology. Still, there are other aspects that need to be considered and developed by the students. Most of the lesson time is spent on talking, held either between the teacher and the student or among students. In the ESP textbooks used in our University, a considerable number of the activities are oriented towards oral communication with the aim of equipping future professionals with the right speaking skills for effective interaction with other coworkers. A high-frequency practice during the lesson is one appropriate approach, the positive results of which are obvious the moment ‘the message’ is fully conveyed and there is linguistic interaction.