Introducing the “Brainling Model” as an Effective Approach to Teaching Speaking Skills to Non-Persian Speakers

Given the significance of the reciprocal relationship between language, culture, thinking, emotions, and senses in establishing and maintaining effective communications, the present paper aims to introduce the “Brainling model” as an effective approach in preparing and developing instructional materials for teaching speaking skills to non-Persian speakers. Developed by Pishghadam (2020), “Brainling” is a combination of brain and language and has been inspired by MacLean’s (1978) theory of the triune brain. Indeed, it is based on the relationship between language and four components of culture (cultuling), emotion (emoling), sense (sensoling), and thinking (cogling). The present research is qualitative and applied. After elaborating on how to develop course content based on this model, a course sample developed by this model for teaching speaking skills to non-Persian speakers is presented. Based on this model, the course content is developed according to cultulings (culture hidden in the language expressions), and concepts and lexical items with a positive emotional charge are employed to the max. Also, throughout the lesson, different senses of learners are involved in learning, and activities and exercises are developed and built to promote a variety of thinking skills, including critical, creative, systems, and futures in language learners. It seems that teaching speaking skills based on the “Brainling model” helps learners build successful verbal communication with the speakers of the Persian-speaking community. Due attention should therefore be given to the coursebooks featuring speaking skills.