Over time, oral communication skills develop from social and less complex to more academic and complex. Students reach higher levels of language complexity by engaging with the language regularly through the acts of listening, speaking, and participating in discussions. Students should have opportunities to act as both the recipient of verbal messages (so they can practice listening to understand the meaning), and as the presenter of verbal messages (so they can practice constructing language to convey meaning).

This knowledge and skills statement is unique in that it focuses exclusively on the domains of listening and speaking as opposed to all four domains of language. In the oral language substrand, students develop and enhance their skills in active listening, following and giving instructions, collaborating, and giving oral presentations.