English Speaking Skills Syllabus

What is the difference between an accent and a dialect?

An accent is purely about pronunciation (how words sound); a dialect includes accent plus distinctive vocabulary and grammar of a region or group.

What does 'accent reduction' (accent modification) aim to achieve?

It aims to make a speaker's pronunciation clearer and closer to a target accent for better intelligibility — not to erase identity, but to reduce features that hinder comprehension.

What is the 'schwa' /ə/ and why is it important in English speech?

The schwa is the weak, neutral vowel sound in unstressed syllables (e.g., the 'a' in 'about'). It is the most common English vowel and key to natural rhythm and reduced forms.

What is connected speech, and name two of its features.

Connected speech is how sounds change when words run together in natural speech. Features include linking (joining word endings to next-word beginnings) and elision (dropping sounds), plus assimilation and weak forms.

What are 'filler words' and what function do they serve in conversation?

Filler words (e.g., 'um', 'well', 'you know', 'I mean') buy thinking time, signal hesitation, and keep your speaking turn while you plan what to say next.

In a basic conversation, what is 'turn-taking'?

Turn-taking is the alternation of speaking and listening roles between participants, managed by cues such as pauses, intonation, eye contact, and gestures so that one person speaks at a time.

What are 'conversation openers' and 'closers'? Give an example of each.

Openers begin an interaction (e.g., 'Hi, how's it going?'); closers signal the end (e.g., 'Anyway, I'd better get going — talk soon'). They frame a conversation politely.

What is small talk and what topics is it typically built on?

Small talk is light, polite conversation to build rapport, usually about neutral topics like weather, weekend plans, travel, or current shared circumstances — avoiding sensitive subjects.

What is the difference between an open question and a closed question?

A closed question can be answered with yes/no or a short fact ('Do you like coffee?'); an open question invites elaboration and longer answers ('What do you enjoy about coffee?').

In advanced conversation, what does it mean to 'paraphrase' and why is it useful?

Paraphrasing is restating what someone said in your own words. It confirms understanding, shows active listening, and lets you respond without exact-word recall.

What are 'discourse markers' (signposting words)? Give three examples.

Discourse markers organize and connect spoken ideas. Examples: 'however' (contrast), 'firstly/then/finally' (sequence), 'in other words' (clarification), 'by the way' (digression).

What is the benefit of 'shadowing' as a speaking-practice technique with audio resources?

Shadowing means listening to native audio and repeating it almost simultaneously, imitating rhythm, stress, and intonation. It trains pronunciation, fluency, and natural prosody.

Why are videos (with subtitles) especially useful for learning to speak?

Videos pair audio with visual context, body language, and lip movements, and subtitles link sound to spelling — improving comprehension, vocabulary, and pronunciation simultaneously.

What is the difference between 'comprehensible input' and 'output' in language acquisition?

Input is language you receive (listening/reading) that is slightly above your level; output is language you produce (speaking/writing). Both are needed; speaking is output practice.

What is 'deliberate practice' as applied to speaking skills?

Deliberate practice is focused, goal-directed repetition of specific weak points (e.g., a difficult sound or structure) with immediate feedback, rather than just casual conversation.

What is the main difference between conversation and public speaking?

Conversation is interactive, informal, and two-way with turn-taking; public speaking is one-to-many, more structured and formal, with planned content delivered to a listening audience.

What three-part structure is recommended for most public speeches or presentations?

Introduction (hook + thesis/preview), Body (main points with support), and Conclusion (summary + memorable close or call to action).

In public speaking, what is the difference between verbal and non-verbal delivery?

Verbal delivery is the words, pace, volume, and vocal variety; non-verbal delivery is body language — posture, gestures, eye contact, and facial expression — which reinforces the message.

What is a 'cultural reference' and why can it be hard for language learners?

A cultural reference alludes to shared cultural knowledge (films, history, customs, sayings). It is hard because understanding depends on background context, not just literal word meaning.

What is the difference between a literal and a figurative (idiomatic) meaning?

Literal meaning is the direct, word-for-word sense; figurative/idiomatic meaning is a non-literal sense understood by convention, e.g., 'break the ice' means to ease initial tension.

Define 'idiom' and give an example with its meaning.

An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from its individual words, e.g., 'piece of cake' means something very easy.

How does an idiom differ from a proverb?

An idiom is a figurative phrase used within sentences ('hit the books'); a proverb is a complete, self-standing saying offering advice or a truth ('Actions speak louder than words').

What is 'register' in speaking, and name two registers.

Register is the level of formality and style suited to a situation. Examples: formal register (job interview, presentation) and informal register (chatting with friends).

What is self-assessment in language learning, and name one tool for it.

Self-assessment is evaluating your own performance against criteria to identify strengths and gaps. Tools include recording yourself, checklists/rubrics, or can-do statements like the CEFR self-assessment grid.

What do the CEFR levels A1 to C2 broadly represent for a speaker?

They are a six-level scale: A1–A2 (basic user), B1–B2 (independent user), C1–C2 (proficient user), describing growing ability from simple phrases to fluent, nuanced speech.

What is the value of recording yourself speaking for self-assessment?

A recording lets you hear yourself objectively, notice pronunciation errors, pacing, filler words, and hesitations you miss in the moment, and track improvement over time.

What is the difference between corrective feedback and positive feedback?

Corrective feedback points out errors and how to fix them; positive feedback reinforces what was done well. Effective feedback usually balances both to motivate and improve.

What is the difference between explicit and recast (implicit) error correction?

Explicit correction directly states the error and the fix; a recast implicitly reformulates the learner's incorrect utterance correctly without overtly flagging the mistake.

Why is being willing to make mistakes important for improving speaking?

Speaking is a skill built through practice; mistakes provide feedback and learning opportunities. Fear of errors causes silence, while attempts (even flawed) build fluency and confidence.

What is a clarification (comprehension-check) strategy in conversation? Give an example.

It is a phrase used to confirm or repair understanding, e.g., 'Sorry, do you mean...?', 'Could you say that again?', or 'So you're saying that...?' to keep communication on track.

What is the recommended approach to combining all sub-skills to improve speaking overall?

Build a cycle: take in input (listening to audio, watching videos), expand vocabulary and grammar, practice output (conversation and public speaking), then self-assess and seek feedback, and repeat.