A Systematic Review of L2 Teachers’ Knowledge and Practice of Teaching Speaking Skills: What Matters?

Mili Saha

University of Wollongong, Australia

Over the past two decades, teaching speaking has become a focal point in foreign language education. Despite the emphasis on communicative language teaching (CLT) in EFL curricula, teachers frequently struggle with effective speaking pedagogy, often prioritizing other language skills (Adem & Berkessa, 2022b; Ngo, 2018). Research underscores the significant impact of teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) on their practices in teaching speaking (Chen & Goh, 2011; 2014). However, no systematic review has yet compiled findings or addressed gaps in this area. This review examines 46 studies and theses on teachers’ pedagogical knowledge about teaching speaking, published between 2011 and 2024. Data were sourced from the UoW Library, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, using search terms such as “teachers’ knowledge,” “teaching speaking,” “EFL/ESL contexts,” and “CLT.” The studies were analyzed based on research focus, settings, participants, aims, and findings. The review identifies significant gaps in understanding how professional learning influences teachers’ PCK for teaching speaking in CLT. Findings reveal that most studies explore the relationship between teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and contextual, educational, and personal factors. A few studies examine the impact of coursework on teachers’ PCK, but limited research addresses the role of professional learning programs. Given the contextual nature of PCK, this review advocates for integrating PCK development with practice in teacher training programs. Future research should explore how professional learning influences the development and application of PCK in teaching speaking, to better equip teachers in fostering students’ communicative skills.

Keywords: Teaching Speaking, CLT, EFL Teachers, Professional Learning, PCK

The above abstract is a part of the article which was accepted at The 10^th International Conference on Languages, Linguistics, Translation and Literature (WWW.TLLL.IR), 1-2 February 2025, Ahwaz.