31/08/2025
Suffering in silence
I felt pretty chuffed to be asked for interview by The Post's education reporter Hana McCallum on the major issue with thousands of tamariki in Aotearoa who haven't developed the oral communication skills required when they start school.
In 2024, an ERO report highlighted concerns about the impact of Covid-19 on oral language development in children aged up to 7. The pandemic limited children's social interactions and increased screen time, reducing opportunities to develop oral language. In fact, a child's vocab at age 2 is strongly linked to their literacy and numeracy achievement at age 12.
As a speech, drama and public speaking teacher of 70 students, I was asked by The Post for my thoughts on oral communication for young people and how it sets them up for excellent skills they can use during their teen years (leadership opportunities, confidence, empowerment, job interviews) and in the workforce ( speaking at work events, dealing with clients, co-workers, and promotional opportunities). I only wish every child was given these opportunities. Speech New Zealand is doing wonderful things with trying to deliver oral communication in primary schools and teacher training.
I also encouraged The Post to interview Aaliyah Middleton who has been working for me teaching a year 7 class and at the same time studying to complete her Speech and Drama teaching qualification. Aaliyah, a former student of mine, who went all the way up to Diploma level, sums it all up really with "If I had not taken speech and drama classes, I don't believe I would have taken the opportunities that led me to being Deputy Head Girl and Head of College Council in my last year of school. I wouldn't have had the confidence to stand before the whole school or lead choirs, or to apply for jobs knowing I could communicate well."
My other teacher Zoe Dzapasi is also an example of someone who completed her Diploma in Speech and Drama at St Oran's, achieved several leadership positions at school and is now teaching two classes for me whilst studying at university.
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