Many Dutch primary school kids struggle to hold basic conversations: Inspectorate

Children in primary schools should receive more instruction in conversation - speaking with and listening to others, the Education Inspectorate recommended. A third of primary school students and nearly two-thirds of special education students have trouble holding a basic conversation.

The Inspectorate examined “oral language skills.” This is one of the basic skills children must learn at school, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic. The researchers studied children’s oral skills at the end of primary school, special primary education, and special education. Compared to about five years ago, children’s listening skills improved slightly, but their speaking skills deteriorated.

At the end of primary school, children should at least be able to understand simple texts and have a conversation about everyday topics. The study found that a relatively large number of children do not reach this level. 31 percent of primary school students, 62 percent of special primary education students, and 64 percent of special education students have great difficulty participating in discussions and expressing personal opinions.

According to the Inspectorate, most teachers are quite positive about their teaching practices for oral language skills, but the domain receives too little attention. Teachers often combine speaking lessons with reading. On average, children practice listening once or twice a month, during which they have to retell someone else’s story.

There are also no explicit objectives and specific instructions for oral language skills. “This makes it difficult for teachers to work purposefully on improving students’ skills,” the Inspectorate said.