Toolkits for tired teachers

Oracy: teaching students to speak

We spend years teaching literacy. But speaking is a skill too, and it can be taught. In the UK, schools call it oracy.

Voice, stance, connection: a student takes the floor.

Literacy

Reading and writing. In French: la littératie.

Oracy

Speaking and listening: explaining, arguing, building on others' ideas.

The four strands of oracy

Physical

Voice, pace, posture, eye contact.

Linguistic

Vocabulary, register, grammar.

Cognitive

Giving reasons, structuring ideas.

Social & emotional

Listening, turn-taking, confidence.

From the Oracy Framework by Voice 21 and Oracy Cambridge.

A student in uniform makes a point at a lectern during a debating club session — Debating club in a UK school: all four strands at work at once.

The voice carries what writing cannot

A written sentence gives words. A spoken sentence gives a person: a trembling voice, a smile you can hear, a silence before an answer, a breath before a confession. Speaking is where emotion and sensitivity live first.

Oracy is not only about arguing well. It is also about daring to say what we feel, and learning to hear what others feel behind their words.

« I'm fine. » said with a smilesaid in a whispersaid with tears in the eyes Three ways to say it. Three different meanings.

Six activities to try tomorrow

In English or French class, from CAP to Terminale.

A teacher holds up a card in front of a lively class, with eloquence lesson notes on the blackboard — Hook, points, conclusion: the teacher models, then the students try.

Just a Minute / Une minute pour convaincre

Students speak for 60 seconds on a topic without hesitating or repeating themselves. Start with easy topics.

My ideal weekendMon plat préféré
Talk roles / Les rôles de la discussion

In groups of four, each student has a role.

Builder: « je rebondis sur… »Challenger: « je ne suis pas d'accord parce que… »Prober: « pourquoi penses-tu cela ? »Summariser: « pour résumer… »
Sentence stems / Les amorces de phrases

Give students ready-made starters. Shy students suddenly dare to speak.

I agree with… because…I'd like to add that…Je comprends ton point de vue, mais…
One sentence, many feelings / Une phrase, mille émotions

Students say the same short sentence with a different emotion drawn from a hat: joy, fear, anger, irony, sadness. The class guesses the feeling. A great way to work on voice, rhythm and silence.

I'm fine.It's raining again.Tu es venu.
Hot seating / La chaise chaude

One student plays a character: a novel hero, a historical figure, a job candidate. The class asks questions. Perfect for literature, history or vocational English.
Philosophy circle / Le cercle philosophique

One open question. Students speak one at a time and build on each other's ideas. No right answer, only good reasons.

Is it ever right to lie?Peut-on être heureux seul ?

Watch and share

À voix haute (2017)French documentary by Stéphane de Freitas: students from Saint-Denis prepare for the Eloquentia speech contest.

Voice 21: oracy in actionClassroom videos and teacher talks from UK schools.

Student-friendly Oracy FrameworkFree PDF from Voice 21, with checklists for each age group.

In France too: la prise de parole

French classrooms are learning to make room for the voice: debates, oral presentations, the Grand oral.

A French lycée student stands and argues in front of her classmates during a citizenship debate — Débat en EMC : oser se lever et défendre une idée.

Two French students face each other and debate at the front of the class — Face à face : écouter l'autre, puis répondre.

Why it matters

With the Grand oral and the vocational oral exams, speaking is now assessed. But beyond exams, a student who learns to speak learns to think, and to be heard.

What oral activities work best in your classroom? Share them below!

#oracy #teachingenglish #FLE #grandoral #lyceepro #toolkitsfortiredteachers

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