Case study on development of oral competence in Infant and Primary Education in a public school

Abstract

The difficulties to implement oral practices in classroom with a rigorous evaluation place oral competence at a disadvantage compared to other communication skills in the current education system. The main objective of this research is to analyze this phenomenon in a specific school context: Infant and Primary Education Center Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Malaga, Spain). The study is framed in the interpretative paradigm through a qualitative methodological approach with the case study technique. The procedures used for data collection were non-participant observation, semi-structured interviews and the analytical review of the center's curricular documentation. The results show the relevance of methodologies and activities for the development and evaluation of oral communication carried out in the center, such as the assembly, radio or theater. It is also evident the educational commitment of this school to compensate the linguistic inequalities of origin of its students. Among the most noteworthy conclusions is the positive exceptionality of the center studied in the work of orality with respect to the global panorama. On the other hand, there is a need for more initial teacher training in didactics of oral competence.