Oracy may not always get the same attention as literacy or numeracy, but its importance in shaping confident, articulate individuals cannot be overstated. From group discussions in primary classrooms to debates in secondary schools, oracy equips students with the speaking and listening skills they need to excel academically and socially.
In this article, we’ll unpack what oracy really means, why it matters, and how you can foster these essential skills across all age groups in your school.
What Is Oracy?
Simply put, Oracy is the development and practice of speaking and listening. However, the pedagogical concept of the term is much deeper. It involves effectively communicating, articulating thoughts, and participating in meaningful, balanced discussions while demonstrating relevant body language and linguistic and emotional cues.
Oracy manifests in various ways throughout daily life. However, an oracy-focused school environment aims to foster students’ confidence in active listening, verbal expression, and constructing and conveying coherent arguments—all necessary for a fulfilled professional and personal life.
The Four Components of Oracy
Since Oracy encompasses many skills, they’re categorised into four components of the discipline (otherwise known as pillars).
Physical
Widely recognised as the foundation of communication, Oracy’s physical component includes non-verbal elements like voice clarity, eye contact, and body language. These skills allow students to engage with their audience (even if that audience is one person) and exude confidence.
Linguistic
When you think of Oracy, you likely thought of the linguistic component of it. It’s a common mistake, but in reality, linguistics (i.e., vocabulary, grammar, and storytelling) is just one of Oracy’s four pillars! It helps students articulate their thoughts and feelings both clearly and creatively. Storytelling projects are a particularly enjoyable way to develop linguistic skills (but more on that later).
Cognitive
This component involves formulating arguments, thinking critically, and organising thoughts. Developing these skills enables students to respond thoughtfully to others and structure their ideas logically.
Social and Emotional
Last but certainly not least, Oracy’s social and emotional pillar revolves around understanding emotions — of those around us and ourselves. Students with these skills will be able to self-regulate, empathise with others, and manage their feelings as they communicate with those around them.
Why Is Oracy Important?
Research has uncovered many benefits of oracy-focused curriculums.
Evidence shows that developing oracy skills improves academic performance across English, maths and science.
But it isn’t just about academic achievement. Oracy’s advantages extend to improved employability and career readiness, self-confidence, resilience, empathy, self-awareness, well-being, happiness, life chances, and civic engagement and empowerment.
Oracy in the Classroom
The implicit teaching of oracy happens all the time in the classroom. But when you’re looking to take an oracy-focused approach, the following tables guides you through the age-dependent specific skills you should work on with your students and strategies to ensure your classroom effectively involves all four pillars of oracy:
Age-Dependent Oracy Skills
| Key Stage | Oracy Skills Taught and Learned |
|---|---|
| Key Stage 1 (Ages 5-7) | – Listening and responding appropriately to peers and teachers – Asking relevant questions to develop understanding and knowledge – Articulating and justifying simple answers and opinions – Providing structured explanations and descriptions |
| Key Stage 2 (Ages 7-11) | – Listening and responding thoughtfully to others – Asking meaningful questions to deepen understanding – Articulating and justifying opinions and arguments with evidence – Engaging in discussions and presentations – Adapting language for different purposes and audiences |
| Key Stages 3 & 4 (Ages 11-16) | – Participating in presentations, debates, and discussions – Speaking confidently in various contexts – Developing advanced oracy skills through English and other subjects – Analyzing and evaluating spoken and written texts – Communicating effectively in structured arguments and creative formats |
Teaching Strategies for Oracy’s Four Pillars
| Pillar | Teaching Strategies |
|---|---|
| Physical | – Encourage public speaking exercises focusing on clear pronunciation – Use role-play to teach body language and eye contact – Record and review pupil speeches to identify areas for improvement |
| Linguistic | – Expand vocabulary through direct teaching and practical use – Promote collaborative editing of peer work – Conduct storytelling sessions and creative writing presentations |
| Cognitive | – Facilitate classroom debates to encourage logical arguments – Organize problem-solving activities that require verbal reasoning – Introduce critical thinking challenges linked to real-life scenarios |
| Social & Emotional | – Create a supportive environment where pupils feel comfortable expressing themselves – Implement ’emotional check-ins’ for pupils to share feelings – Foster empathy through group discussions and collaborative projects |
Oracy vs Literacy and Numeracy
Literacy and numeracy have traditionally taken precedence over other curriculum subjects. But as of 2024, educators, researchers, and scientists alike say oracy should take over—or become as essential as literacy and numeracy, at least. Why? due to its importance, as discussed earlier. It forms the basis of our professional and personal lives, so why shouldn’t it be as important as other widely recognised essential disciplines?
Measuring and Assessing Oracy
While assessing oracy is still largely subjective, the Oracy Skills Framework and Glossary defines a list of attributes to look out for when assessing students’ skills. These include linguistic notions like using appropriate vocabulary in the context, physical attributes like pronunciation clarity, and cognitive choices like maintaining focus on the topic.
Improve Your Students Communication Skills With Oracy
Embedding oracy into your teaching and focusing on its four pillars, you can help your students build the confidence, communication skills, and emotional intelligence they need to succeed academically and socially.
Whether through classroom discussions, debates, or storytelling, prioritising oracy will prepare your pupils for the wider world beyond the school gates.
Explore Oracy Champions today!
