oral language TEKS talk image

Knowledge and Skills Statement

Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: listening, speaking, discussion, and thinking -- oral language. The student develops oral language through listening, speaking, and discussion.

Elicit student participation in a reciprocal discussion based on a text read in class. Task students with asking open-ended questions while others listen closely to the comments made, take notes, and offer observations for clarification. During student discussion, observe and note whether students ask questions and share comments that build upon the ideas of others.

Note:

Choose a text that is appropriate for the learners in the classroom and that encourages inquiry and discussion.
 

Further Explanation

For this assessment, students are required to show evidence of active listening and interpreting information about a text that is shared in a reciprocal discussion. Students need to understand the ideas shared by others clearly enough to react in a way that allows them to build upon the ideas of others. Students’ questions should directly link to the discussion. If they are off topic, this may indicate that students misinterpreted the concepts discussed.

Part of active listening is knowing when and how to ask questions that help create connections to prior knowledge or related concepts. If students are accurately processing the information they are receiving, they should recognize when they have gaps in their understanding. Students should ask questions to clarify certain points such as requesting the speaker repeat or rephrase the idea or confirm an interpretation of the information.
Students should identify and explain the speaker’s opinion or ideas on the topic based on how the speaker organizes information, supports an idea or elaborates on the topic, or emphasizes certain points. Students should understand that, in speaking as well as in writing, messages can be implied; therefore, students must be attentive to the various communication techniques a speaker uses so that students can deconstruct what was said to explain the meaning of the intended message.
Active listening requires students to be engaged with what (and who) they are listening to in order to better understand the intended message. Students who are listening actively listen with a purpose engage with the speaker by asking questions and making comments and demonstrate attentive nonverbal behavior such as making eye contact and nodding their heads.