Oral Fluency: The Neglected Component in the Communicative Language Classroom

Abstract

In this paper, we argue that current instructional ESL resources must be supplemented to facilitate the effective development of learners’ oral fluency. We summarize some of the pertinent literature on L2 fluency and report the results of a survey of fluency activities (free production, rehearsal/repetition, consciousness-raising, and use of formulaic sequences and fillers) found in 28 ESL learner texts and 14 teacher resource materials. The findings indicated a heavy emphasis on free-production tasks in both learner and teacher resource books, with less focus on the use of formulaic sequences, rehearsal, and repetition. Learner texts were sorely lacking in consciousness-raising activities; furthermore, fewer than half of the teacher resource books included these. We describe types of oral fluency instruction that can be integrated into L2 classes to address these deficiencies. Finally, we propose contact activities to assist learners in developing fluency outside their ESL courses, and suggestions for research.