Mastering speaking skills is crucial in learning a foreign or second language.
Speaking is considered the most important element among the four main language
skills. However, there are several discrepancies in the application of speaking
principles, activities, and materials by educators in the English Education
Department at various universities in Indonesia. Therefore, this study aims to
identify the principles, activities, and materials lecturers use in teaching speaking
courses. The research design employs a narrative inquiry approach. This study was
conducted at Antasari State Islamic University Banjarmasin. The researcher
conducted an interview with a speaking course lecturer. The interview provided data
on applying principles, activities, and materials used in teaching speaking classes.
Based on the objectives of this study, the researcher found that the lecturer applied
four principles in teaching speaking: providing students with sufficient
opportunities to practice fluency and accuracy, giving students chances to speak
through group or pair activities while minimizing teacher intervention in the
conversation, planning speaking tasks that involve negotiation of meaning, and
creating classroom activities that involve instruction and practice in transactional
and interpersonal speaking. Additionally, in conducting speaking activities, the
lecturer used role play, simulation, and discussion. In the learning process, the
lecturer frequently used audio-visual materials and PowerPoint presentations.