Teachers Unite to Enhance Oracy and Presentation Skills

As the new school year continues to unfold, educators from diverse departments, such as social studies, English, ENL and world languages, are coming together with a shared mission: to develop students’ oracy and presentation skills.

Recognizing the importance of these abilities in the modern workforce, Huntington teachers are engaging in cross-curricular professional development to ensure students are future-ready. (Oracy skills involve the ability to communicate effectively through speech and language.)

“In this collaborative initiative, teachers have devoted time to reading ‘Transform Teaching and Learning Through Talk: The Oracy Imperative’ by Amy Guant and Alice Stott, discussing best practices and strategic approaches to enhance students' language development,” said Judy Moroff, district director of bilingual programs and world languages.

The professional development sessions have been rich with insights and practical strategies, allowing teachers to share expertise and harmonize their teaching methods across disciplines.

“Our unified goal has been clear since we started working together: preparing students for the demands of the future workforce,” Ms. Moroff said. “In an era where effective communication is critical, equipping students with solid oracy skills is imperative. By fostering their abilities to articulate ideas clearly, argue points persuasively, and present information confidently, we lay a solid foundation for their professional and personal success in the future.

Incorporating regular group discussions, debates and presentations into the curriculum emerged as vital among the strategies discussed. Teachers are also exploring using technology, such as multimedia presentations and online collaboration tools, to make learning more engaging and reflective of real-world applications.

“As we progress through this school year, the collaborative efforts of our social studies, English, ENL and world language teachers will continue to be pivotal,” Ms. Moroff said. “By working together, we are enhancing our students’ language skills and fostering a more supportive and integrated learning environment across our content areas.”