Enhancing Students’ Speaking Competence Through Balanced Language Activities and Small-Group Discussion Techniques
Keywords:
Speaking Competence, Second Language Acquisition, Small-Group DiscussionAbstract
Developing speaking competence is a central objective in language education. Burkart (1998) advocates for a pedagogical approach combining language input, structured output, and communicative output. This article explores these dimensions in detail and emphasizes small-group discussion as an effective instructional technique. Drawing from established educational theorists and practical implementations, the article demonstrates how structured and communicative group discussions enhance linguistic, strategic, and sociolinguistic competencies among learners. It also outlines the key benefits of small-group work in improving speaking proficiency, critical thinking, collaboration, and learner autonomy.
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