ABSTRACT
Quite simply, the word 'oracy' means speaking and listening. It is the sister word to 'literacy' which means reading and writing. In recent years, oracy activities in schools have become increasingly acknowledged as an important element of children's learning in addition to the more established reading and writing activities. The National Curriculum Order for English (DfEE and QCA 1999a) devotes a whole Programme of Study to speaking and listening which indicates how vital it is to educational provision. Indeed, talk is central to our communication processes.
