Section 6.1.2 highlighted what people do with spoken language; they:

• combine it with other skills;
• communicate with an interlocutor;
• operate in a variety of contexts, which frequently differ from those encountered in written language situations.

These are the linguistic elements which need to be addressed in oral classes. There will also be academic demands that need to be met (for example, grammatical points to illustrate and practise, socio-cultural information to convey). A second-year course, for example, might frequently focus on preparation for a forthcoming period of residence abroad. The two aims, fulfilling language functions and engaging in language activities, need to be combined.