As educators, we know communication is key. But how do we teach this vital skill? An oracy framework provides high quality structure for developing spoken language abilities. This empowers students to articulate thoughts, engage in discussions, and present ideas confidently. It helps develop listening actively and supporting views by examining ideas critically.

Effective communication is crucial in today’s world. The oracy framework develops these essential speaking and listening skills, becoming more effective speakers. Let’s explore the power of the oracy framework and understand how it helps young people articulate ideas.

What is the Oracy Framework?

The oracy framework guides oracy skill development for learning and social mobility. It includes various talk formats, from casual conversations to formal debates and speeches. It is designed to enable successful discussion and inspiring speech.

Oracy combines aspects of reading and writing. Just talking isn’t enough; students need a systematic approach, similar to literacy frameworks. Oracy frameworks use structured speaking and listening exercises.

These frameworks build upon one another. Oracy education is supported by the student’s entire academic journey.

Key Components of the Oracy Framework

Many frameworks revolve around these core strands, incorporating physical linguistic cognitive aspects:

• Physical: This focuses on the physicality of speaking. It includes voice projection, body language, and eye contact, which builds confidence.
• Linguistic: This emphasizes clear pronunciation, correct grammar, and vocabulary choice for understanding. Vocabulary choice can also enhance meaning and improve communication.
• Cognitive: This promotes structured talk, building shared knowledge. Students support views through examining ideas, including active listening and perspective analysis.
• Social and Emotional: This prioritizes confidence-building. Active listening, managing interactions, and responding appropriately are used. Students build rapport, consider views expressed, and manage interaction in large and small group discussions.

Integrating these strands shows the framework’s importance for pupils. It supports the benchmarks outlined in the Oracy Benchmarks report.

Practical Applications of the Oracy Framework

A curriculum with oracy-based exercises enables active learning strategies. It facilitates active discussions and critical thinking. This encourages tonal variation, supports views by examining ideas, and provides formative feedback. It encourages group discussions and prepares students to convey meaning.

Oracy education impacts both academic success and social/emotional skill development. It enhances student interaction. Teachers use these tools to guide their class on building better arguments and managing time appropriately.

Classroom Discussion

Teachers use the curriculum to guide small-group discussions. This makes ideas visible and relatable. They ensure everyone is comfortable contributing. Simple strategies such as a talking piece can be useful in facilitating these conversations.

Presentational Talk

Students deliver short, informal presentations. This develops voice projection, tonal variation, and use of rhetorical techniques for better communication and articulation. As they gain confidence, presentations become longer and more formal. (And they also learn that their facial expression is part of the presentation, not just the words).

These opportunities track skill progression. The Oracy Skills Framework offers guidance for implementing oracy in your practice.

Debate and Dialogue

Debates involve small groups arguing different parts of a larger argument. Students articulate their points and prepare arguments within their teams.

Discussions help organize arguments. Students then present a final summary, prioritizing key points. This helps build listening, persuasion, and teamwork skills. It supports the framework by requiring students to organize arguments, use evidence, consider diverse viewpoints, and manage group interactions.

Why the Oracy Framework Matters

This framework provides broader benefits. Improved verbal self-confidence and listening skills encourage positive personal interaction and effective communication.

These skills enhance collaboration. Implementing oracy lessons for pupils and staff helps develop social/emotional skill sets. They are meant to foster cooperation and build valuable skills for students. This structure also allows educators to directly teach oracy in a way that help develop the skills young people need to become our future leaders.

While free play time fosters autonomy, implementing it can be challenging. It sometimes lacks structure, according to observations documented online. Oracy provides a balance by teaching students how to participate successfully in a range of talk situations while maintaining structured learning opportunities.

Examples of Implementing the Oracy Framework in US Classrooms

Many US high schools, and some younger levels, have implemented “Socratic Seminars” to help pupils understand other viewpoints and develop understanding on a topic at a deeper level. Students take turns actively listening and supporting arguments. They are encouraged to use clear vocabulary, provide summaries and evaluate information in front of a large audience (the entire class).

Post-seminar, students reflect individually and as a team. This encourages both active listening and real-time verbal feedback. The seminar structure also supports developing understanding through group discussions and articulation.

If you are looking for case studies, here’s a few examples of schools that are sharing the impact report for oracy targets in their primary schools.

Got older students? Here’s some feedback on teachers critically examining these methods in their own higher level classrooms.

Challenges and Considerations for Teachers Using Oracy Framework

Integrating a new framework may seem complex. Gradual phasing helps introduce oracy into classrooms effectively.

Start with familiar vocabulary and slowly increase complexity through scaffolding. Use real-life and theoretical scenarios, like “tea party talk” versus “job interview dialogue.” Provide specific feedback for effective development. The challenges associated with using an oracy framework can be further understood using this oracy toolkit.

How Oracy Skills Change As Students Develop

Year Level	Typical Characteristics
Reception/Kindergarten (4-5 years)	Use talk in imaginative play and join phrases. Listen to others, take turns, and share news.
Year 1 (5-6 years)	Ask about others’ views, supporting answers with details. Disagree politely, recognizing conversational/presentational talk differences.
Year 2 (6-7 years)	Structure sentences, share thoughts/feelings, and respond appropriately in discussions, adapting their style.
Year 3 (7-8 years)	Participate formally in team activities, using listening skills in spoken responses and discussions. Express diverse perspectives, potentially oversimplifying counter-arguments due to limited experience.
Year 4 (8-9 years)	Develop language for sharing feelings, expressing agreement/disagreement, and providing feedback. Use appropriate vocabulary, structuring persuasive arguments with specific sentence constructions for emphasis.
Year 5 (9-10 years)	Use expressive verbal communication in role play, supporting formal discussions in group projects. Develop leadership skills, managing, clarifying, and staying on topic during presentations. Peer teaching becomes effective as oracy grows, alongside vocabulary and complex questioning.
Year 6 (10-11 years old)	Focus on precise language for diverse situations. Mentor younger pupils, demonstrating empathy and explaining strategies. Expand vocabulary through these learning processes. Develop persuasive tone, considering audience knowledge using varied techniques, sentence structure, and tonal inflection. Master effective discussion, speech, and presentations with mature summaries, utilizing rhetorical tools. Use appropriate idioms in conversations. (Parson Street)

FAQs about oracy framework

What are the 4 strands of oracy framework?

The four strands are physical, linguistic, cognitive, and social/emotional.

What is the oracy framework?

The oracy framework provides a structured approach for teaching speaking and listening skills, equipping students to present ideas and articulate ideas.

What are the 4 skills of oracy?

The four core skills are physical skills (voice and body language), linguistic skills (vocabulary, grammar, structure), cognitive skills (content, reasoning, self-regulation), and social and emotional skills (listening, responding, confidence, empathy). All these contribute to successful participation in a variety of talk situations.

What are the four pillars of oracy?

The four pillars are physical, linguistic, cognitive, and social/emotional skills. Same as above, just a different title.

Conclusion

As technology advances, human communication remains vital. A strong oracy framework fosters this, reminding us of the unique quality of spoken language. Students today need to learn how to speak to others more than ever, and a high-quality oracy education can give them a better chance at success.

The oracy framework equips students to articulate ideas confidently. Educators set expectations systematically. This clarifies the assessment process and enhances classroom dynamics. Begin supporting oracy development now.

Students learn by communicating, furthering classroom learning journeys. As educators, we must recognize spoken language as a powerful tool for social mobility and support its development. Oracy matters!

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