ABSTRACT
Spoken language sits at the heart of English teaching, reflected in James Britton's often-quoted words that 'reading and writing float on a sea of talk'. The development of spoken language is an important area of the curriculum in its own right, but it is also the medium through which learning happens. Genuine dialogue to develop children's understanding, whether as a whole class, in pairs or between the teacher and child, depends on authenticity: asking questions that require a genuine answer rather than one the teacher is expecting. Debating the issues arising from a text is a valuable classroom activity, both for the development of children's understanding of texts, their spoken language and the ways it can link to wider learning experiences, such as understanding issues and empathising with characters and their situations. Texts that contrast characters speaking in ways other than Standard English are useful for helping children to think about what a standard construction is and what is not.
