What is oracy?

Why does it matter & how can I teach it?

Alice Stott [email protected]

@voice21oracy// @stottcrates
What is oracy?

• A neologism

Literacy Oracy Numeracy

Who are Voice 21?
Why does it matter?

Social
mobility

Socially & Learning &

civically educational
outcomes
Improved
Oracy

Employ- Well-being,
ability self-esteem
&
confidence
Why is oracy important?
Why is oracy important?

Why is oracy important at your school?

I bet you’re thinking

Yes, I was thinking…
oracy is important at A B Actually, I was thinking…
this school because…
What makes good talk:
An introduction to the oracy framework
What is oracy?

• On post it notes, write down

every context in which you
spoke in the last 48 hours.
E.g. making a complaint,
calling the cat inside.
 Express
Problem-solve Challenge
yourself

Entertain Organise and Analyse and

Influence
structure ideas evaluate

Give Generate Reach

ideas and Build
instructions consensus/
opinions relationships
negotiate

Gather and
Acquire new Understand
share
language and reason
information
What is oracy?
Exploratory talk vs Presentational talk

Exploratory talk Presentational talk

‘exploratory talk which is typical of the ‘The difference between the two functions
early stages of approaching new ideas of talk is that in presentational talk the
[…]Exploratory talk is hesitant and speaker’s attention is primarily focused on
incomplete because it enables the speaker adjusting the language, content and manner
to try out ideas, to hear how they sound, to the needs of an audience, and in
to see what others make of them, to exploratory talk the speaker is more
arrange information and ideas into different concerned with sorting out his or her own
patterns.’ thoughts.’

Barnes, 1992
Exploratory talk vs Presentational talk

Exploratory Presentational
talk talk
Oracy skills framework – an introduction
A skills framework is designed to organise teaching and learning,
rather than to fully describe the phenomenon of speech. Some of its
distinctions are artificial; it is not the whole story; like all tools, it will
be improved as people use it.

We have divided oracy skills into four categories:

Cognitive The deliberate application of thought to what you’re saying

Linguistic Knowing which words and phrases to use, and using them

Physical Making yourself heard, using your voice and body as an instrument

Social Engaging with the people around you; knowing you have the right
to speak
Oracy skills framework – some games
angry excited sad

“It’s going to snow today”

nervous worried confused

 Oracy skills framework – some games

Social Cognitive Linguistic Physical

Oracy Skills Content
• Choice of content to convey
Framework meaning & intention
• Building on the views of others

Structure
• Structure & organisation of talk
Working with others
Clarifying & summarising • Guiding or managing
interactions
• Seeking information &
• Turn-taking
Vocabulary clarification through
questions Listening & responding
Voice • Appropriate vocabulary
• Summarising
choice
• Fluency & pace of • Listening actively &
Language Self-regulation responding appropriately
speech
• Tonal variation • Maintaining focus on task
• Clarity of pronunciation • Register Confidence in speaking
• Time management
• Voice projection • Grammar
• Self-assurance
Reasoning
Body language Rhetorical techniques • Liveliness & flair
• Giving reasons to support Audience awareness
• Gesture & posture • Rhetorical techniques views
• Facial expression & eye such as metaphor, • Critically examining ideas • Taking account of level of
contact humour, irony & mimicry & views expressed understanding of the audience

Physical Linguistic Cognitive Social & Emotional

Using the framework
Embedding talk in every lesson
How can talk be planned to be rigorous
and support subject learning?

Purpose
Structure Scaffolds Reflection
of talk

• To formulate an • Groupings • Sentence stems • Feedback

argument • Roles • Keywords • Metacognition
• To build relationships • Protocols • Modelling
• To explain reasoning
• To entertain, e.g.
storytelling
Silent summariser:
• Discussion is a waste of time with a badly behaved class.
• Using talk in lessons amplifies the voices of the loudest at the expense of
quieter students’ learning.

Linking to that …
I agree/disagree because … I disagree with you
because…

A B
Summariser:
The main points you raised
C were…
Developing discussion guidelines

May I suggest …? It might work better if

…

Could you change

that to …?
How about …?
Discussion
What are the main barriers stopping
teachers from using talk and how can
they be overcome?
Talk detectives feedback