Improving English speaking skills in high school

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present practical experience and methodological recommendations in conducting mini-presentations as an educational exercise for the development of such a type of speech activity as speaking among students of non-linguistic higher educational institutions. The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that recently in Ukraine there is a growing need for specialists with higher education who speak English fluently and can use it in the professional and everyday sphere. This is connected with the unchanged course of Ukraine towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration. In accordance with this need, scientific and pedagogical workers of the higher school are increasingly interested in studying and applying effective approaches and exercises during classes in the educational course program. Special attention is paid to exercises that develop speaking skills. This article deals with such an exercise as a presentation. The methods that were used in the development of methodological recommendations: observation, methodical experiment, modeling analysis. The article talks about the stages of preparing a presentation, overcoming psychological barriers and the importance of the speaker's self-expression, the development of critical thinking. Results and conclusions. Conducting presentations within the educational course, as a permanent educational exercise, contributes to the formation of speech competences, the expansion of vocabulary, the development of oratorical skills and psychological competences. Systematic use of the exercise called «Mini-presentation» in practical English language classes can have a significant effect on improving the speaking level of students of higher education.