Dulwich Difference: Nurturing Literacy and Oracy for Success
Literacy and oracy are cornerstones of effective communication and crucial for personal and academic success. This week’s ‘Dulwich Difference’ Series features Amy Uffindall, Head of English, who will share insights into the dynamic strategies that Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi employs to cultivate these skills. Join us as we delve into how our tailored approaches empower students to excel and emerge as confident, articulate global citizens.
Amy Uffindall
Head of English
‘ Roads were made for journeys not destinations’. ― Confucius
Literacy and Oracy are powerful tools, not only in education but in life. Success in any field, and by any measurement, can be determined by your ability to organise, process and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas. At Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi, we not only have the responsibility, but the privilege, of supporting our students as they develop their understanding and use of language. Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to implement, teach, and sustain impactful learning opportunities to ensure all students achieve across their modern and diverse curriculum. We strive to enable students to develop literacy and oracy skills to ensure a greater confidence in communication, well-being, and empathy, leading to success in their future pathways beyond graduation. This will further support our vision for them to be leading global citizens.
Cultivating a Lifelong Love for Literacy
In the senior phase of the college, our Key Stage 3 students have a dedicated library lesson each week. In this time, students enjoy the newly refurbished library facilities where they can choose from a wide selection of books and reading materials and receive one to one support from teachers as they develop reading skills such as phonic awareness, fluency, and prosody. These library lessons also provide specific tools and opportunities to develop their academic skills such as research, media literacy, data collection, the appropriate and safe use of the internet and AI, and how to cite sources. These valuable skills support students in all areas of their learning and in preparation of their examinations. These are also vital skills for the demands of university in what is becoming an ever increasingly competitive market.
The whole senior school phase engages in The Accelerated Reader programme - an international reading programme - which monitors both progress and engagement. Students have access to thousands of book quizzes which not only capture their comprehension and understanding, but also encourages participation. This is an online platform which students can access at any time and so it is great for independent learning. English teachers monitor the books students read and their comprehension of narrative and wider concepts. This system is linked to a reward program where students work to achieve Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Uranium, and Plutonium awards. These are not linked to attainment but rather the words read, therefore fostering a lifelong love of reading. As part of the rewards program students also complete various independent tasks such as writing a book review for other students and creating original book displays in the library. Students are encouraged to make book recommendations as we seek new and varied titles. Additionally, we have facilitated Drop Everything and Read where at selected times the whole of the senior phase will read collectively. This again fosters a love of reading and access to literature. Building good habits of reading are crucial to any student as reading is explicitly linked to all other components of literacy. Which again, will not only support our students in their college careers but in their chosen fields beyond.
This year we have also introduced a new Guided Reading Intervention Club which takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning. These sessions are designed to provide our students with targeted support to develop their reading and in turn develop their language skills. Previously, students have taken part in such sessions once a week, but research has shown that reading little and often has a greater impact. We have already garnered excellent results from this new initiative as regular attendees to these sessions have seen a significant improvement in their reading and comprehension ability. Further, their progress has been swift and meaningful as have seen an impact in their attainment across a range of subjects as developing vocabulary allows greater access to lesson content and facilitates deeper learning.
Enhancing Communication: The Role of Oracy in Education
Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi have also worked with the U.K based research and educational institution, Voice 21 who research, promote, and teach the value of Oracy as a vital skill and tool to support learning. Working with this institution has meant new learning activities and opportunities have been brought into the classroom. Students are explicitly aware of the different skills and components of Oracy, they are aware of the nuances of communication and how it can help them express themselves whether scientifically, historically or in performance. Students have a keen awareness of the skills they are developing from linguistics to cognitive, from physical to social and emotional. The Oracy assessment framework has also been introduced to teaching staff to ensure oracy is used across the curriculum with consistency and purpose. Students can use Talk Roles in the classroom which structure and guide discussion in all contexts. These models and tools have enabled our students to become more fluent in their expression and have the confidence to discuss, debate and deliberate key ideas and concepts. The use of these talk roles and more group-based activities in lessons has also developed and supported student communication and language development as they are able to reason and use evidence to deepen their understanding and explanations.
Once such activity which showcased how the college can support the Oracy of our learners was a year 7 poetry project. Within the year group there are 3 classes, each was assigned a different poem to study. Rather than writing a critical response, students gave a presentation to other members of the year group in mixed classes. Students were then able to review the work of their peers and gain valuable insights into the skills of presenting to an audience. The opportunity to present was daunting for some students but with the support of the Oracy framework and clear objectives, students thrived when completing this challenge and enjoyed the experience so much they are hoping for more of the like.
When reviewing educational practices and activities to aim higher, many simple skills may be overlooked or even taken for granted. At Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi we never overlook or undervalue key skills that will support our students. In English lessons, our teachers explicitly teach valuable and vital skills such as note taking, summarizing, annotating, proofreading and mnemonic devices. These taught skills are built upon as students’ progress through the different phases ensuring that students can access the rigors of the IGCSE and IB qualifications. These skills are valuable in ensuring students can process content and vitally these skills are also applicable to professions and industries beyond college. Literacy and oracy skills are no good without words, and without a diverse and appropriate vocabulary students will not be able to thrive. As well as reading and oracy activities, students are taught key vocabulary such as subject specific terminology and dialectal words through various means such as graphic organizers, creative tasks, and conceptual linking activities. The environment which students enjoy is rich in literacy as academic terms are displayed in classrooms to support a diverse vernacular.
Students are central to all we do; their voices are a focal point in our classrooms. Students are encouraged to talk and will be listened to. Class discussion forms a vital aspect of our learning. Discussion forms the foundation of ideas as students are encouraged to share ideas and learn how to connect concepts through conversations in a safe environment. New technologies are also supporting our student’s literacy and oracy. School AI is being used by teachers to create systems where students converse with famous authors, scientists, and historical figures, experimenting with constructing questions to understand the perspectives of others. These engaging activities develop communication skills as well as diversify learning content.
The recent Model United Nations project, Natural History Day, The Shakespeare Festival and Frantic Assembly Workshops also provide unique learning experiences for students outside of the classroom. These events enable students to refine and build on their communication skills in challenging environments. In such experiences our students face daunting challenges such as public speaking and performance where they are vulnerable. With the confidence and creativity, we foster in college, our students can meet these challenges and be successful.
Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi is fully committed to the literacy and oracy of our students. We invest in the future by striving to ensure varied and meaningful tools and experiences that support the development and application of language in all forms. We hope to ensure success for all students across their diverse curriculum and provide the skills needed for their chosen role beyond.