Five Skills

As teachers, it is essential to be aware of the five skills we need to work on in the classroom. None of them should be neglected, as all of them contribute to language learning. 

READING COMPREHENSION

Besides expanding vocabulary and reinforcing syntax, this skill encourages students to develop fluency and become immersed in a wide range of interesting topics. 

LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Training students' ears is extremely important. There are many aspects to consider: accent, intonation, stress, rhythm, emphasis and so on. Developing this ability helps students process meaning in real time and boosts their confidence when they realize they can understand native speakers.

WRITING

Creating a text offers the opportunity to show off what has been learned so far. The idea of writing is to put into practice new vocabulary and structures, always in response to the requested task. Through writing practice, students can learn to produce formal and informal pieces following the appropriate conventions. They may be required to write emails, essays, articles, reviews, stories, reports and proposals, among other text types.

SPEAKING

Just like writing, speaking is a great chance for students to demonstrate their level of English. Since speaking is usually more informal than writing, it would be a fantastic idea to use idioms, colloquial expressions and humour. The practice of speaking will enhance pronunciation, intonation and rhythm, as well as fluency, of course.

USE OF ENGLISH: GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY

This is the backbone of the language. By incorporating vocabulary as well as grammar structures and rules, students will be able to grasp meaning and produce messages both orally and in writing. They will certainly improve accuracy and broaden their lexical range.

To achieve good results, all these abilities should be integrated and balanced. If we succeed in working with them properly, students will gradually move away from translation and begin to think directly in English.