ASSESSING SPEAKING SKILLS.
Keywords:
Speaking skills, oral assessment, language testing, communicative competence, fluency, accuracy, evaluation methods, performance-based testing.Abstract
The article explores the principles, methods, and challenges involved in assessing speaking skills in the English language classroom. Speaking is a crucial component of communicative competence, yet it is one of the most complex skills to assess objectively. The paper discusses different approaches to speaking assessment, including formative and summative evaluation, holistic and analytic scoring, and task-based assessment. It also highlights the key features of effective speaking evaluation such as fluency, accuracy, pronunciation, vocabulary, and interaction. Moreover, the article addresses problems teachers face, such as subjectivity, cultural bias, and testing anxiety. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of valid, reliable, and practical assessment methods that reflect real communicative performance. The paper concludes that balanced assessment, combining standardized rubrics with authentic speaking tasks, provides the most accurate reflection of learners’ speaking abilities.
