Original Ways to Assess Oral Communication

In Cycle 1, activities should focus on helping students feel comfortable expressing their opinion and taking part in discussions while also building their vocabulary and storytelling skills. Keep in mind that students at this stage are particularly receptive to games and interactive approaches. Conversations are therefore an ideal option for assessing their verbal expression. Here are a few communication activities to try with your Cycle 1 students:

• Conversations and discussion games: Set aside a block of time where students can regularly share anecdotes or interesting things they have done recently with the class. For example, you could start every Monday by asking your students what they did over the weekend. Feel free to download our list of suggested conversation topics, a series of engaging prompts designed to liven up classroom discussions.
• Interactive games: There are numerous games you can use in the classroom to assess oral communication skills that are also a fun way for students to improve their vocabulary. Games like Taboo, Tell me . . . , Mysterium, Bubble Talk , Hedbanz, Dixit, and Mafia  get players to talk, use bodily expression, and practise their listening skills.
• Blindfold challenges: Divide the class into teams of two. In each pair, one person is blindfolded and has to rely on their partner’s instructions to complete a task, such as navigating an obstacle course or making a simple object. Another option is to have each pair of teammates sit back-to-back. Student A describes an object to Student B (without saying exactly what the object is), who must try to draw it based on their partner’s description.

In Cycle 2, students are starting to think more critically and have discussions with their peers. This is the perfect time to introduce small group discussions and class reading assignments that will help improve their comprehension and oral expression. Group-based discussions and textual analysis encourage a stimulating exchange of ideas and opinions. Here are a few activities to get the ball rolling:

• Reading circles: Our ‘5 to 7’ Writing Exercise for Fans of Book of Spells Stories is based on our online reading game, but the prompts can easily be adapted for reading circle discussions. You can also set up reading circles where students draw questions at random about the story they are reading and discuss them in small groups. This format favours more natural interactions, since it does not have the pressure of a formal presentation. Similarly, our tool for boosting reading comprehension lends itself well to breakout discussions. It contains 24 questions that can help students have a relaxed conversation about their assigned reading.
• Analysis of videos without dialogue: Divide your class into small groups. Have them watch and analyze a video containing no dialogue or a silent film before discussing the characters’ intentions and emotions. For an added challenge (and a bit of fun!), your students can try giving the characters voices.
• Thematic discussions: Based on your students’ interests, choose a few broad themes for the assigned readings throughout the year and have a class discussion after completing each theme. Check out our collection of recommended reading lists for inspiration.

As they reach the end of elementary school, students are ready to tackle more structured and sophisticated forms of oral communication. Now is the time to hone their public speaking skills and introduce activities such as mock interviews and debates. It is crucial to offer students varied experiences that help them develop their critical thinking and oratory skills. Here are a few suggestions:

• Podcasts and BookTube: Have your students create BookTube-style podcasts or videos (i.e., literary reviews where they share what they thought of a book). With this type of assignment, you can seamlessly integrate technology into the process of assessing oral communication. In addition, since students are recording or filming their work, it may be easier for them to evaluate themselves and make improvements. Here are a few ideas in this vein:
  • An infomercial
  • A story
  • A scientific report about a discovery or invention (it can be made up!)
  • A vlog
  • An interview
  • A literary or art review
  • Etc.
• Roundtables and mini debates: Organize roundtables and mini debates on topical issues. These activities encourage active listening and organized speech while teaching students about democracy and citizenship.
• Creative presentations: Have your students give presentations on their biggest interests and passions. It is essential to give encouraging and constructive feedback at this stage, to help prepare students for the more challenging oral presentations they will be assigned in high school.
• Modelling through role-play: Create role-playing scenarios on a variety of topics to help students learn to organize their thoughts and defend a point of view in a respectful manner. For example, by modelling conversations or interactions with a student, you can show the rest of the class examples of effective, polite communication. Examples of role-play situations include:
  • How to invite a classmate to play
  • How to compliment someone
  • How to ask a question or ask for help
  • How to express disagreement
  • How to introduce yourself to someone new
  • How to make connections with what someone is saying
  • How to ask if you may speak
  • How to demonstrate that you are listening
  • How to adopt a confident posture and reinforce your message using body language
  • How to adapt the intonation, speed, and volume of your voice to suit the message or context
  • Etc.
• Improvisation: Improv games are a terrific method for practising oral communication in class. Designed to help students work on their language skills, this printable Alloprof activity involves splitting students into two teams for an improv battle.
• Two Truths and a Lie: Ask your students to each think of two true statements and one false statement about themselves, and then have them pair up. In each pair, Student A shares their three statements with Student B, who must identify which one is the lie. Then, they switch roles. When everyone has had their turn, discuss the activity together as a class.
• Etc.