Oral language is widely recognised as an essential foundation for successful school learning. However, until recently, the acquisition of oral language skills has been largely overshadowed by reading, writing, spelling and numeracy and has not been considered a key component of school curricula (Munro, 2011). Oral language lays the foundation for the reading and writing skills children will develop as they enter and progress through school. Having a solid foundation in oral language helps children become successful readers and strong communicators as well as build their confidence and overall sense of well-being.
In response to these facts, the Catholic Education Council of Victoria (CECV) has undertaken a series of 3 research initiatives to explore improved oral language impacts on child language, literacy and mental health. The three projects include:
