Although ESL deals with reading and writing, speaking is often the most important and difficult of the three aspects of learning the language. Because speaking deals with having the confidence to say what is on your mind in another language, it can sometimes be difficult for students to talk during class. However by following a few techniques your students should be more comfortable speaking.

* 1 Do not correct every word that your students say. Correct proper pronoun use and the pronunciation of particular sounds that they have trouble with but do not correct every word. Students who are first learning a language tend to be shy and when you constantly correct them it will have a reverse effect and make them afraid to talk. For higher level students this is ok but for lower level students keep it at a minimum.

* 2 Start out the class by asking how everyone is doing and how their day went. This is a chance for the students to talk about something outside of the lesson and this may make them more inclined to talk. Use this time to add humor and joke around with your students to make them feel more relaxed and less nervous about speaking.

* 3 Bring in an interesting news article that is based on the level of your class once or twice a week. Give this to the students after class so that they can read it at home and be prepared to discuss it the following day. The more controversial the topic is the better. Ask questions on the day of discussion and let everyone voice their opinions.

* 4 Have the class break into groups and prepare skits that are based on the lesson. Make sure that they include the unit's vocabulary and grammar. Have the groups then present their skits in front of the class.

* 5 Write a question on the board such as "What would you do if you had a million dollars?" Give the class a few minutes to write down some basic notes, but not a script of what they will say verbatim. Write who, what, where, when, why and how on the board to give the students an idea of what to say. Now go around the class and let each student give their answer to the question. Set a one minute time limit on their answers so that they are forced to think fast.