Fluency development in second language teaching
Date
1993
Authors
Ascione, Marguerite E.
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 1993
Abstract
Al though students may spend several years (up to 12 years)
in learning a second language, we must recognize the fact that
a great number of these students are still not proficient and
fluent in speaking the foreign language. Since the actual
trend in learning second languages is directed toward the
development of oral proficiency, and since oral fluency is one
of its components, students need to speak with a certain
degree of fluency in order to demonstrate their oral
proficiency. The purpose of this study was to describe factors
or conditions which contributed to the development of oral
fluency in selected, fluent grade 12 students.
The first step was to define oral fluency, followed by the
development of an appropriate device to evaluate it. The
selected fluent students were interviewed. The interviews were
later analyzed in order to determine the preponderant factors
or conditions contributing to oral fluency, and to find the
answers to the following questions:
1. Is there a pattern or are there similar factors/conditions
among the students that have contributed to their oral fluency
development?
2. What are specific ways to promote oral fluency development
in a second language?
The main findings of this study were that oral fluency
was acquired as a result of several factors: students who are
positive and self-motivated, a learning experience which has
been positive and enjoyable for the students, parents as well
as teachers who have been positive and supportive, teachers
who were proficient in the second language, and its having
taken place within a second language immersion learning
environment.
This study provides a list of requirements and factors
that will help to promote oral fluency in a second language.
Description
viii, 102 leaves ; 29 cm.
Keywords
French language -- Study and teaching as a second language (Secondary) , Second language acquisition