Abstract:
The main objective of teaching and learning languages for professional purposes is to
develop competences in oral communication, which is absolutely necessary in carrying out
professional tasks. To achieve this goal, the use of effective strategies, including finding the most
appropriate teaching methodologies to meet the language needs of learners in oral expression would
be necessary. The acquisition of oral competence among the learners of French for tourism and
hospitality in Kenyan public universities is a challenge. The main objectives of this study were: to
examine classroom practices, teaching methodologies and assessment strategies used by the lecturers
and to determine the extent to which these promote the acquisition of oral skills among the learners.
We adopted a descriptive approach, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods of data
collection. The results of this research reveal that the teaching and assessment methodologies used by
the lecturers do not fully contribute to the acquisition of oral skills. For lecturers to effectively adopt a
wide variety of strategies necessary for oral language instruction, more effort would be required at
two fronts: continuous teacher training and the application or transfer of theoretical knowledge
acquired during training into operational actions in the teaching-learning practices.
