I forgot to put in my quote earlier. Here it is now :)

"Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud."  -Hermann Hesse

I am certain that the author of this quote was not thinking about language learning.  This quote, however, really captured for me what it is like to assess speaking and to have one's speaking assessed.  I think the reason that speaking in a language other than one's native language can be even more intimidating than the other language skills- particularly for beginners- is, in part, because speaking is a production skill that we use in our native language without even thinking.  Suddenly in another language we do not feel free.  Speaking, more than anything in language learning can make us feel clumsy and awkward and child-like.  There is no time to look up words in a dictionary when we are having a conversation.  No way to check our grammar or pronunciation until after the "damage" is done.   Our thoughts can be brilliant and composed and articulate, but then our mouth opens and chaos spills out.  Everything becomes different when it is spoken out loud.  In order to properly assess speaking as teachers we need to bear that phenomenon in mind.  We need to give students frequent opportunities to speak in class before they feel that they are being officially assessed.  We need to make them feel comfortable with the vocabulary and grammar and pronunciation through repetition, reading out loud and very simple response solicitations before assessing them on more complex utterances.  We also need to make clear to our classes as a whole that everyone learns at different rates and that no amount of disrespect toward classmates will be tolerated.  All aspects of language need a solid foundation, but speaking also requires an extra layer of confidence-building.  After all, no one wants to feel like an idiot, even if their language skills are extremely limited.