Oracy: the Transformative Power of Finding Your Voice by Neil Mercer

In the book Oracy by Neil Mercer, spoken language is treated as a central medium for thinking, learning, and social participation, not as a secondary skill. The book argues that how people talk together shapes how they reason, make sense of experience, and develop understanding. Oracy is the ability to use spoken language effectively across contexts, including exploratory discussion, collaborative problem-solving, and public communication.

Mercer draws on classroom research and sociocultural theory to show how structured talk supports learning and cognitive development. He pays close attention to the norms and practices that make dialogue productive, such as listening, building on others’ ideas, and giving reasons. The book also examines how oracy can be deliberately taught and assessed, rather than left to chance.

Rather than offering quick techniques, Oracy provides a careful account of why spoken language matters, and how schools and organisations might take it seriously as a shared, learnable practice.

 
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•  Oracy   The ability to express oneself in and understand spoken language

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