‘Oral language’ is communication in the spoken mode. It includes both the receptive mode of Listening, through which we hear and make sense of meaningful messages from others through talk, and the productive mode of Speaking, through which we share meaningful messages with others through talk.
Oral language is interactive and reciprocal, involving turn-taking as part of brief or extended conversations. Meaning in oral interactions is negotiated in real time between the speaker and the listener, not just through language choices, but also with the use of intonation, physical gestures and facial expressions.
Students need to develop their oral language to shift from context-dependent talk to decontextualised talk: from using language in the here and now to using language for reflection, explanation and learning beyond the immediate context.