Shekhtman's Speaking Tactics for Improving Professional Level Oral Proficiency

The chapter is: Shekhtman et al (2002). Developing professional-level oral proficiency: The Shekhtman Method of Communicative Teaching. In Shekhtman and Leaver, Developing Professional-Level Language Proficiency. Cambridge University Press, 2002. p.119~140.

Unfortunately, despite the cool title, the concepts are not completely clearly explained and definitely not supported with evidence except the writer's personal language teaching/learning experience and some rather iffy metaphors beaten to death over long paragraphs. That leaves me skeptical about their value.

Nevertheless, some ideas were new to me and possibly useful for advanced language learners.
In the SMCT, some cool-seeming professional speaking tactics (Communication Management Devices) are:

Answer Expansion: Talking a lot so that the native speaker you speak with won't get worried that you cannot communicate. Hmm...useful?

Use of Islands: Having little pre-practiced conversation tidbits you can spurt out effortlessly in order to rest your mind (because conversation in a foreign language is taxing, yes). Islands="Speeches in which the speaker sounds more effective and articulate than usual" as a result of repetition. OK, but how do you know what to practice in advance...little anecdotes you tell again and again like some grandpa??

Using Questions to Continue a Conversation: Speak -> end with a question back to your interlocutor. Very useful, obviously. I agree with the authors that learners need to practice taking control of the direction of a conversation by asking questions.

Adherence to the Known: Using simple, automatically usable grammar structures and phrases that one knows in the target language, rather than trying to make difficult un-automatic phrases by translating from L1 or trying to make something new. Basically, go with the simple structures and phrases you know. I agree...I think. But is it so simple?

Simplification: This seems similar to the above. Use simple structures because when you go for something complex or unmastered, you can "ruin your communication" as Shekhtman et al put it.

Acceptance of Mistakes: Don't try to correct yourself in mid-speech unless a breakdown of communication is occuring. Good advice!

Embellishment: Using "Oh, by the way, " "Right on!" "On one hand...on the other hand" "You bet!" and other common "natural discourse markers" of spoken discourse in order to make your speaking sound more lively and natural. Sure...why not? As long as you don't over-embellish your stories, I guess.

Complication: Using complex, sophisticated structures and expressions in meticulously pre-prepared, monologic discourse such as presentations, even if they are "non-automatic" and difficult to use. OK, I think this is useful--but a bit too obvious to call a tactic?

Shekhtman has a "dirty laundry" washing method where he takes the oral mistakes of his students, says them to them, and makes them say the correct "washed" version. Hmm...yeah...that could work, I guess if you have time to do that one-on-one in a drill fashion. That would not be very realistic in a classroom situation unless it is done with samples from all around the classroom and everyone tries to wash some phrases the teacher caught during the group work time or presentation time. It could also be seen as too much focus on errors...