The term ''oracy'' was coined by Andrew Wilkinson, a British researcher and educator, in the 1960s. This word is formed by analogy from
literacy
Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, huma ...
and
numeracy
Numeracy is the ability to understand, reason with, and to apply simple numerical concepts. The charity National Numeracy states: "Numeracy means understanding how mathematics is used in the real world and being able to apply it to make the bes ...
. The purpose is to draw attention to the neglect of
oral skills in
education
Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...
.
Concept
According to Wilkinson's conceptualization, oracy in educational theory is the fluent, confident, and correct use of the standard spoken form of one's native language. It also established a standard where students' abilities are developed within an integrated program of speaking and listening, reading and writing. Recent studies also equate oracy with the notion of "talking to learn" within the perspective that knowledge is constructed by the individual knower, through an interaction between what is already known and new experience. An example of oracy-based education initiative was the UK's National Oracy Project, which recognizes the role played by classroom talk and puts equal treatment between spoken and written modes.
References
*''Oracy Matters: The Development of Talking and Listening in Education'' by Maggie MacLure (Editor), Terry Phillips (Editor), Andrew Wilkinson (Editor) (Open University Press, 1 Jun 1988)
External links
Aspects of Communication and the Plowden Report
Education issues
Oral communication
Rhetoric
{{edu-stub