Post by ESOL College International

How often have you heard teachers say, ‘My learners don’t speak in class,’ ‘They are shy and lack confidence', or ‘They keep switching to their first language’? These are some of the familiar challenges in many classrooms. Our recent workshop with Ms. Manisha Dak, Head of Academics (Teacher Development), on ‘Teaching Speaking’ focused exactly on this, helping teachers explore both the reasons behind these challenges and the strategies that can transform quiet classrooms into confident ones. Before long, the room was filled with quick exchanges, varied drilling techniques, real-life conversations, and the lively buzz of interactive tasks. These activities demonstrated how every learner can be given the opportunity to engage in meaningful communication that they find valuable. The workshop also created space for reflection, exploring why learners sometimes hold back, how structure can support fluency, and how speaking activities can be adapted for different classrooms. Because meaningful professional development is not only about learning strategies, it is also about reflecting on practice and reimagining the speaking classroom. After all, learners do not learn to speak simply by being told to speak. They develop speaking skills when the classroom provides them with reasons, space, and confidence to use their voice. 🎓✨