EVALUATING TEACHING SPEAKING SKILL AT SUDANESE BASIC SCHOOLS: A CASE STUDY OF ELMANAGIL AREA

Abstract

This study is an attempt to evaluate teaching speaking in the SPINE (Sudan Practical Integrated National English) Series, books 1-2-3 ,the activities, the material and teaching strategies used, in El Mangil basic level schools. The study surveyed teachers' and pupils attitudes towards teaching speaking in basic level in an attempt to help teachers as well as syllabus designers and pupils, in respect to the skill under investigation. The study also examined whether the traditional classroom is conducive to stimulate speaking in terms of size and group dynamics, and the quality and adequacy of speaking activities in SPINE. Forty (40) teachers and 105 pupils participated in this study. Four instruments were used for data collections: two questionnaires for teachers and pupils, classroom observations, and textbook analysis. The findings of this study showed that pupils are not able to express themselves in English due to the poor and inadequate speaking activities presented in the textbooks, investigated ,in addition to the lack of authentic materials in teaching speaking, large classes and little emphasis are given to teaching speaking. The study recommended that there is a need for further modification of the speaking activities in SPINE and incorporation of authentic materials, particularly materials for developing speaking skill.