To improve most oral skills in ELL learners, which component is NOT typically focused on?

The focus on improving oral skills in English Language Learners (ELLs) often emphasizes aspects of pronunciation and the rhythm of spoken language, making stress patterns, intonation patterns, and even the phonetic alphabet crucial components of instruction. Stress patterns help ELLs understand which syllables are emphasized in words, which significantly impacts comprehension and oral communication. Intonation patterns guide learners on how to convey emotions and nuances in meaning, which is vital for effective oral communication.

In contrast, while word definitions are essential for vocabulary development and overall language comprehension, they do not directly address the phonetic and rhythmic elements of speaking. Rather, understanding definitions supports reading and writing but does not inherently contribute to the oral skills necessary for fluent and expressive speech. Therefore, the component that is typically not emphasized in the context of improving oral skills is word definitions.