Students interests to practice listening and speaking in relation to the testing system in secondary level.

Abstract

The topic for this study is “Students interests to practice listening and speaking in relation to the testing system in secondary level.” It is well known that learning language means the use of four language skillsreading, writing, speaking and listening. The primary skill of language is speaking and listening. When English plays as important role in the age of globalization, the aural-oral skills of English have not got that much importance in English teaching and learning in schools and colleges. In our county, Secondary level is considered as the base of education. But in this level, there is lack of students motivation in using the two skills- speaking and listening. English is considered as a subject instead of a language. In order to change this situation the government introduced Communicative English into class six in 1996 and then into other classes of secondary level on an incremental basis.As listening and speaking is not tested in the SSC examinations, most teachers or school authorities do not take any initiative to introduce aural- oral practices and to assess students. students, too, are, less interested to practice speaking and listening as these two skills are not tested.