隨著國際化的腳步加速行進，英語口語表達能力日趨重要，會話已成為大學英語教學中不可或缺的課程。而會話實為英語教學中最艱難的挑戰之一，其中兼具一般性與本土性的困難。前者大抵與口說英語在語言學上之殊異性有關；後者則特指在台灣地區實施會話教學可能面臨的的本土型問題。為增長教學的效益，研究者針對後項困境提出應變之道，其中包括大班管理策略、教學環境減壓方法、以及有效的口語教學活動。本研究同時也列舉其他值得深入探究的議題：有害壓力與有益壓力的區分、流暢性與正確性的平衡、客觀性評量及主觀性評量的揀擇；自發性口語表達的養成。透過本研究，期使大學英語教學工作者得以透視會話課程的基本性質，進而因材施教、循循善誘莘莘學子，具體達成教與學的目標。
Teaching spoken English is one of the thorniest tasks in the Second Language Education. The present study will pinpoint both the universal difficulties of oral English teaching and its specific problems, which college English teachers in Taiwan might confront in their unique teaching context. Ready remedies such as strategies to manage large classes, tips to reduce speech anxiety, and activities to promote learners' involvement are elaborated in details. In addition to feasible treatments, the study also provides further researchable issues on learners' affective factors, error correction, proficiency evaluation and speech spontaneity. In short, the study not only provides enlightening insights of conversation teaching but also intrigues teachers in Taiwan to probe the challenging field of oral language education.
