The Preparatory Studies Centre (PSC) at UTAS-A recently organized a workshop in CC106 featuring Dr. Zahra Zargaran from UTAS-Shinas as the presenter. The workshop held at 12:15 PM attracted 37 enthusiastic participants eager to delve into "How to Change Passive Learners into Active Speakers."

Dr. Zargaran began by outlining the characteristics of passive and active learners, setting the stage for an insightful exploration of engaging speaking activities. She emphasized the following key elements to foster active speaking among learners:

1. Relevance: Connecting speaking activities to learners` experiences and real-life situations.
2. Authenticity: Incorporating authentic language use and real-world scenarios.
3. Variety: Offering a range of speaking tasks and formats to cater to different learning styles.
4. Interactive Nature: Promoting interaction among learners through pair or group activities.
5. Clear Instructions: Providing concise and clear instructions for speaking activities.
6. Time Limit: Setting reasonable time limits to maintain energy levels and focus.
7. Challenge Level: Striking a balance between challenge and attainability.
8. Use of Multimedia: Integrating multimedia elements to enhance engagement.
9. Incorporation of Technology: Utilizing technology to add a modern dimension to speaking activities.
10. Inclusive Design: Accommodating different proficiency levels and learning abilities.
11. Feedback Opportunities: Providing constructive feedback for improvement.
12. Choice and Autonomy: Allowing learners autonomy in choosing topics for speaking activities.

Furthermore, Dr. Zargaran showcased examples of engaging speaking activities through videos of her classes, demonstrating how these principles can be applied in real teaching scenarios. She also engaged the participants in analysing speaking activities from coursebooks, eliciting potential pitfalls and offering insights on adjusting these tasks to align with the features of engaging speaking activities.

Overall, the workshop provided valuable guidance for educators seeking to empower passive learners and cultivate active speakers in the classroom. Participants left with practical strategies and a deeper understanding of designing and implementing engaging speaking activities to enhance language learning.