Understanding the Impact of Oral Language and Information-Intensive Environment on Reading and Writing Development
Oral language plays a crucial role in the development of reading and writing skills. It is the system through which we use spoken words to express knowledge, ideas, and feelings. The foundations of oral language are developed by age four and have a profound impact on children’s preparedness for kindergarten and their success throughout their academic careers.
Components of Oral Language
Oral language is often associated with vocabulary as the main component. However, it is comprised of much more. In the broadest definition, oral language consists of six areas:
Phonology: This covers the organization or system of sounds within a language. Once the phonological system has been acquired for basic listening and speaking, children begin to develop phonological awareness—the awareness of words in sentences or syllables in words.
Vocabulary (Semantics): The development of vocabulary focuses both on expressive and receptive vocabulary. Expressive vocabulary represents the words a student actively uses when talking, writing, or otherwise communicating. Receptive vocabulary represents the words that a student understands—based on context and background experiences—but may not necessarily use when speaking or writing.
Morphology: Sometimes considered to be a subset of syntax and sometimes considered as part of vocabulary (semantics), morphology is focused on the smallest units of meaning within a word, as well as the rules about how those words are formed.
Grammar: Grammar is the heart of language and is considered a valuable asset in language learning. Grammar helps students discover the nature of language, i.e., that language consists of predictable patterns that make what we say, read, hear, and write intelligibly. It improves the speaking and writing skills of the learner and helps them become a better communicator.
Discourse: Discourse refers to the use of spoken language in conversations and other interactions with people. It includes activities such as conversations, interviews, role-plays, debates, and presentations. Oral discourse promotes fluency, pronunciation, and the development of speaking skills.
Pragmatics: Pragmatics refers to the social rules of language and the contextualized purposes spoken language serves. It takes into account the social context in which we are communicating and the audience receiving our message. This includes norms for conversation, such as taking turns and responding appropriately to questions. Teachers can help students develop their pragmatic skills by providing opportunities for them to practice using language in social situations. This can be done through activities such as role-plays, discussions, and debates.
Impact on Reading and Writing Development
Oral language skills provide the foundation for fluency and comprehension. It encourages emergent literacy. Without oral language, children are at an extreme disadvantage when learning the ways in which we speak, the meaning behind the words, and how that translates to the written word.
The environments where children learn their language can have a direct impact on their success in literacy. This is why it’s so important to include oral language lessons in your preschool lesson plans! Preschool language development largely happens as children follow the models of significant caretakers around them.
In conclusion, understanding oral language and its components can greatly enhance our approach to teaching reading and writing skills. By focusing on these areas, we can create an information-intensive environment that promotes literacy development.
Here are some ways that anyone could use oral language in an information-intensive environment to impact their students’ reading and writing development:
Modeling: Teachers can model good oral language skills by speaking clearly, using a rich vocabulary, and engaging in conversations with their students. This helps students develop their own oral language skills and learn new vocabulary.
Storytelling: Storytelling is a powerful tool for developing oral language skills. Teachers can tell stories to their students, encouraging them to listen carefully, ask questions, and retell the story in their own words.
Discussions: Engaging students in discussions about various topics can help them develop their oral language skills. Teachers can ask open-ended questions, encourage students to share their thoughts and opinions, and facilitate discussions among the students.
Dramatic Play: Dramatic play provides opportunities for students to use oral language in a fun and engaging way. Teachers can set up scenarios for students to act out, such as going to the grocery store or visiting the doctor, and encourage them to use oral language to communicate with each other.
Oral Presentations: Giving oral presentations can help students develop their oral language skills as well as their confidence in speaking in front of others. Teachers can provide opportunities for students to give presentations on topics they are interested in or have researched.
These are just a few ways that anyone could use oral language in an information-intensive environment to impact their students’ reading and writing development. By incorporating these strategies into your teaching, you can help your students develop strong oral language skills that will support their success in reading and writing.
Source:
The Impact of Oral Language Development on Literacy Success (stayathomeeducator.com)
The Impact of Oral Language on Reading Development - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com
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