When we learn a language, there are four skills that we need for complete communication. When we learn our native language, we usually learn to listen first, then to speak, then to read, and finally to write. These are called the four "language skills":

• Skill 1: Listening
• Skill 2: Speaking
• Skill 3: Reading
• Skill 4: Writing

As you can see, speaking is the second language skill, and probably the one that most language learners wish to perfect as soon as possible.