Recent research published in the journal Children (Gràcia et al., 2021) has provided valuable insights into assessing and enhancing oral skills in adolescents. This study underscores the importance of fostering oral competence during middle school, a critical period for language development. The researchers developed a model comprising five key dimensions of effective oral communication: interaction management, multimodality and prosody, textual coherence and cohesion, argumentative strategies, and lexicon and terminology.
For practitioners, understanding and implementing these dimensions can significantly improve students' oral skills. Here are some practical steps based on the research findings:
- Interaction Management: Encourage students to use interactive markers, manage communicative turns, and employ politeness strategies. This can be achieved through role-playing activities and structured classroom discussions.
- Multimodality and Prosody: Teach students to use body language and facial expressions effectively. Additionally, focus on prosodic features like intonation, pitch, and volume to convey emotions and clarity in speech.
- Textual Coherence and Cohesion: Guide students to organize their thoughts coherently and use discourse markers to link ideas. Activities like storytelling and structured debates can enhance these skills.
- Argumentative Strategies: Develop students' ability to formulate and support arguments, identify fallacies, and present counterarguments. Debates and persuasive speaking exercises are effective methods.
- Lexicon and Terminology: Expand students' vocabulary and encourage the use of domain-specific terminology. Vocabulary-building exercises and subject-specific presentations can be beneficial.
Implementing these strategies in the classroom can create a robust foundation for students' oral competence, leading to better academic and social outcomes. Additionally, practitioners are encouraged to utilize self-report tools, like the Test of Self-Perceived Oral Competence (TSOC) developed in the study, to assess and monitor students' progress.
For those interested in further research, the study also highlights the relationship between oral skills, emotional intelligence, and metacognitive strategies. Exploring these connections can provide a more comprehensive understanding of language development in adolescents.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Assessment of Oral Skills in Adolescents.
