The use of oxford`s compensation strategies to develop speaking skills in a1 learners (CEF)

Abstract

The speaking skill is a difficult skill to develop when students are starting to learn English. One of the reasons, why this happen, could be because they do not have specific strategies which can help them develop their speaking skills. However, if teachers promote the use of certain strategies, learners could improve their speaking skills. Therefore, there are the Rebecca Oxford´s compensation strategies which are created to help students overcome limitations learning English. This project is based on the necessity to use the compensation strategies to improve students´ speaking skills. The research sought to find out the preference that A1 learners of the Language Department at Universidad de Cuenca have regarding Oxford´s compensation strategies to develop speaking skills by applying a survey among two hundred students. The analysis of the collected data revealed a medium usage of the compensation strategies, showing that students do not know about these strategies to use them to improve their speaking skills. Based on the collected data and its analysis, twelve lesson plans were developed, using the compensation strategies of greatest preference. It is hoped that teachers will use the lesson plans to help students develop their English language speaking skills.