Designing a Speaking-Oriented Course Integrated with Speak Everywhere and Its Classroom Implementation Practice

Abstract

Speak Everywhere (SE) is a web-based system with which learners can practice speaking skills individually and take oral exams from any internet-connected environment. This article discusses the process of designing a speaking-oriented course which integrates the use of SE. The benefits of tightly integrating SE into the curriculum were found to be as follows:

1) It became possible to conduct foundational oral practice outside of the classroom, which both increased learner opportunities for oral practice and allowed the classroom time thus spared to be used for more communicative activities;

2) by conducting oral exams using SE in addition to face-to-face exams, precious classroom time was saved and the frequency of oral assessments was increased;

3) learners were able to practice individually and take their oral exams in more comfortable settings;

4) many learners evaluated SE positively.