Sue Palmer makes the point that there should be opportunities for children to read aloud, recite poetry, learn scripts and give speeches (“These words were meant for speaking”, TES, January 10).
I write on behalf of Year 10 at Moreton Hall school in Shropshire to say that we have been reading aloud, speaking poetry and giving prepared talks for four years. As part of our English curriculum we prepare oral work for assessment by the English Speaking Board.
I can honestly say that we have learned by these methods to communicate effectively and confidently. We certainly don’t “declaim speeches”, but we do learn the skills of speaking with clarity and enthusiasm on subjects that interest us.
The ESB programme also enables us to speak our favourite poems, read aloud and discuss themes and characters in the books. Yes - the words are meant for speaking and our spoken work complements our written English.
Jenny Hazan Moreton Hall school Oswestry Shropshire