How can young learners’ speaking proficiency be developed? An analysis of speaking activities in selected English language textbooks for early school education in Poland

Abstract

The aim of the following paper is to analyse speaking activities included in selected English language textbooks for early school education in Poland in order to provide a view of the manner in which this particular language skill is developed at this level of education. Significantly, in the research, the author makes an attempt to apply the provisions of complex systems theory that leads her not only to determine the specific contexts in which she places the language material present in the scrutinized textbooks, but also to create a check-list for evaluating them. In the conducted analysis, both the quantity and the quality of the encountered activities are taken into consideration. Consequently, it is possible to describe the way in which young learners’ speaking proficiency is increased in the analysed textbooks, check whether speaking activities are integrated with the selected contexts and indicate potential problems that can be noticed in this respect.