If you work with Multilingual Learners, also known as English Learners, you know that teaching them English requires more than reading and writing. It’s about nurturing confident communication in your students in multiple languages.
Only two percent of teachers have had any formal training in teaching Multilingual Learners English, though 65 percent of you have multilingual students in your classrooms. The Science of Reading has brought evidence-based reading instruction to the forefront and has underscored the need to ensure English Learners also receive focused instruction on oral language development. The National Association for Bilingual Education acknowledges the importance of reading science but cautions that it may overlook one essential aspect—oracy, or the ability to express oneself fluently in speech.
The Oracy Imperative in Multilingual Settings
Oracy is the foundation of effective communication. For Multilingual Learners who navigate multiple languages, the opportunity to engage in discourse is vital to improving oracy. Students must immerse themselves in both “playground talk” and academic discussions to become truly proficient. Having the chance to verbally interact in a safe setting where they won’t be ridiculed accelerates your students’ learning trajectory. If they don't have a chance to practice the language orally, they won’t become proficient. And because students are assessed on reading, writing, listening, and speaking as part of their redesignation process, mastering oracy is critical.
Mathematics as a Language
Math is often mistakenly perceived as purely numbers, so teachers frequently assume that non-native English speakers will not have a language barrier. But language is key to moving beyond basic facts into higher-order thinking. Students must articulate their understanding and share their reasoning. This is where our role as educators expands from providers of knowledge to architects of conversation-rich environments.
Building Language Routines in the Classroom
Our strategies can make or break a student’s confidence in using a new language. Establishing frameworks such as Try–Discuss–Connect that respect silent periods (where modeling language takes precedence) and encourage productive struggle fosters safe zones for verbal experimentation. This developmental approach supports our students as they gradually tackle complex language tasks. To help Multilingual Learners become proficient in oracy, you must give them time to practice and make mistakes in a safe environment.
Encouraging Linguistic Flexibility
When we ask students to turn and talk, why not let them converse in whichever language they find most comfortable? This practice lowers anxiety and removes barriers to expression, especially for Multilingual Learners who will later need to meet certain language proficiency standards for reclassification.
Practical Tips for Successfully Incorporating Oracy
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Use Sentence Frames
Start with basic sentence frames and progressively move to more complex ones. A quieter student could begin with simple phrases like, “I agree with . . .” or “I don’t understand because . . ..” The key is to level the playing field and model using sentence frames so all students are approaching discourse the same way. -
Provide Additional Opportunities for Discourse
Implement cross-lingual peer discussions before sharing with the whole class, enabling students to scaffold their learning and transition smoothly into English academic language. -
Model through Fishbowl Activities
Show students the expected structure of academic discussions by placing two students in the center of the room to model productive discourse, allowing their peers to learn by seeing and doing. -
Give Up the Pen
Creating more discourse in your classroom doesn’t require extra time. It requires that you do less lecturing. You know the material already, but your students don’t, so encourage them to explain concepts to their peers. Student-led learning reflects true understanding, fosters multiple problem-solving perspectives, and reduces the need for lengthy direct instruction.
By enriching our students’ oracy skills, we provide them with the linguistic toolkit necessary to thrive, both academically and socially. So, let’s keep striving to make every classroom an incubator for expressive language free of judgment. Who knows—we might just learn a new language along the way ourselves.
Want to learn more about oracy? Check out this resource at the San Diego County Office of Education.
