Issues in Testing English as a Foreign Language Speaking Skills: A Case of Saudi Schools

Speaking is one of the most essential skills of language usage. In general, teaching and testing speaking ability is both difficult and time consuming. This paper will concentrate on the different methods used to test speaking ability. It starts by presenting a brief summary of the methods of testing speaking skills used in Saudi schools. It then discusses several of the problems and difficulties associated with testing speaking skills and describes some of the practical methods used. For example, it explains how computers can be used when testing speaking ability. The purpose of this research is to help teachers to both design adequate speaking tests and improve their testing methods.