"In today's world, far too much communication is happening digitally. We've lost that ability to speak and to listen and to understand each other. Getting us back to being able to speak to each other is one of the beautiful parts of Oracy." - Eric Chamberlain

Eric Chamberlain is a teacher-turned-tech genius. He has created not one but TWO apps that promote speaking, listening, and confidence-building across classrooms.

Yes. Eric is responsible for the above quote AND has developed digital apps too.

In this episode you'll hear:

• About the development of apps that revolutionise assessment practices, from language learning to oral exams.
• How technology can reduce teacher workload and improve student feedback.
• Ethical considerations of AI technology in learning environments

It's a fascinating look at how technology can take young people away from the pressure of the classroom whilst allowing them to thrive in it.

Find out more about Eric's apps here:

Say Veritas: Students learn through speaking—daily snapshot, weekly formative checks, and secure oral assessments. Track National Curriculum coverage automatically. Generate evidence for Ofsted in minutes.

PhonemeLab: The app created by Eric as a way for him to ease the pressure on his wife's teacher workload.

Eric Chamberlain on LinkedIn

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, I'm Al Booth, host of Oracy and Beyond.

I'm a broadcaster, conference host, and podcast producer with more than 25 years across BBC and commercial radio and television.

Today I work with schools, education organisations, and companies who want to create confident conversations — hosting conferences and panel discussions, producing podcasts, and helping leaders speak with authenticity and confidence.

Organisations typically work with me to:

• host conferences and panel discussions
• launch and produce podcasts
• coach speakers and leaders to communicate clearly and with confidence

Planning an event, launching a podcast, or exploring how to develop oracy across your organisation?

Learn more or get in touch: albooth.co.uk Or find me on LinkedIn

I started Oracy and Beyond to explore how speaking, listening, and storytelling help young people build confidence, self-worth, and opportunity.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you've enjoyed this episode and want to continue the conversation, head over to the Oracy And Beyond page on LinkedIn.

Being a child with a head full of ideas and suggestions but lacking the confidence or ability to share it with peers is a terrible feeling. This episode's guest knows that all too well.

Veronique Trang went from being a shy child to the CEO of a tech company that has created a podcast app to help young people grow their own communication skills.

And, ultimately, their own self-worth.

Telmi came about from Veronique's own experiences and her belief that practice makes progress.

In this epsiode she talks about:

• How Veronique’s childhood experience inspired the creation of TelMi

• Why practicing speaking is essential for building confidence and voice

• How podcasting can become a powerful tool for developing oracy in schools

And she shares some wonderful stories of how children have found their voice through podcasting.

You can find out more about Telmi at the official website. Just click here.

If you're an Oracy lead, Veronique is looking forward to talking to you to see how Telmi can benefit your classroom.

You can contact Veronique on her LinkedIn page.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm Al Booth, the host of Oracy and Beyond. I'm a broadcaster, conference host, and podcast producer with more than 25 years’ experience across BBC and commercial radio and television.

Today I work with schools, education organisations, and companies who want to create confident conversations — hosting conferences and panel discussions, producing podcasts, and helping leaders communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence.

I host and moderate discussions at education and on-stage events and love helping conferences create thoughtful, energetic conversations that audiences remember long after the session ends.

I started Oracy and Beyond to explore how speaking, listening, and storytelling can help young people build confidence, self-worth, and opportunity.

Organisations typically work with me to:

• host conferences and panel discussions

• launch and produce podcasts

• coach speakers and leaders to communicate clearly and confidently

Planning an event, launching a podcast, or exploring how to develop oracy across your organisation?

Learn more or get in touch: albooth.co.uk

Or contact me on LinkedIn

D8upODpZaWjJSmRlC4h0

"Oracy has a power for social mobility and opportunities for those that maybe don't have the language in their upbringing. That's not to say that oracy is gonna solve all of the problems in society, but as educators, it's a real tool that I think we can equip our children with." - Michael Gardner

Michael Gardner is the founder of "The Oracy Shift" and author of the recently published book "Voices of Opportunity", as well as being a teacher and learning lead at The Maritime Academy Trust.

In this episode Michael shares his beliefs that social mobility can be achieved through oracy through purposeful, deliberate practice in listening, questioning, challenging ideas, and building on others' contributions.

Michael talks about:

1. How Oracy Reconnects Teachers with the Core Purpose of Teaching: Meaningful Human Interaction.
2. In the Age of AI, Oracy is the Uniquely Human Element of Education that Technology Cannot Replace.
3. How Oracy allows introverted people to be able to communicate and share ideas with others with confidence.

Michael Gardner's book "Voices of Opportunity" is published by Routledge and is available to buy using this link.

You can find out more about The Oracy Shift at TheOracyShift.co.uk

Connect with him on LinkedIn on his profile which is... here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello — I’m Al Booth, host of Oracy And Beyond, broadcaster, conference host and panel moderator.

I created this podcast to explore how young people can develop confidence, self-worth and communication skills through oracy.

I’m not an oracy expert — I’m a former shy child who found his voice, and I’m curious about how conversation can create equity for young people.

And I am curious to find out how I can use my experience and skills to help young people express themselves and create equity through oracy.

If this episode sparked ideas for your setting, I’d love to continue the conversation and explore how we might work together.

You’re very welcome to reach out — even if you’re simply exploring ideas.

Email Me

Connect on LinkedIn

Learn more: OracyAndBeyond.com

Thank you for listening. I look forward to chatting with you.

"To me, oracy is life. We are animals from time beyond. If we've been evolved to communicate, we need to communicate to survive. So, it's life, isn't it?" - Shilpa Jamieson

Shilpa Jamieson is family coach, a speaker, and an author. Her work centres around human connection, particularly in families and with young people at the heart of it all.

In this episode Shilpa chats about:

1. How children can hold on to a sense of self when their world is increasingly filled with outside pressures from A.I. and social media.
2. Why teaching her 4 pillars - self-knowledge, self-trust, self-worth, and connection - can help children express themselves amongst their peers and within their families.
3. How a recipe for cake can help young people bake themselves a metaphor for happiness.
4. How she teaches "communicate your emotion, don't be your emotion" to take ownership of their feelings rather than blaming others.

This episode was recorded before, and is being released at the end of Children's Mental Health Week. In light of that, Shilpa has recorded a masterclass which you can find at her website.

To find out more about Shilpa and her wonderful work, please follow the final links:

Free masterclass on 2 minute moments to build kids’ mental health - for Children’s mental health week - sign up link here.

https://www.mindsetmimiandme.com/2-minute-moments

Shilpa's Books and membership - www.mindsetmimiandme.com/what-we-offer

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mindset_mimi_and_me/

Linked in - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilpaj-mindset-mimi-and-me/

Pebble finds his pace https://mindsetmimiandme.thrivecart.com/pebble-finds-his-pace/

Shilpa's community membership (Mindset & US)

https://mindsetmimiandme.thrivecart.com/raise-emotionally-strong-kids/

You can also find Shilpa on LInkedIn right about... here!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello. I'm Al Booth. I am the host and creator of Oracy And Beyond.

With more than 25 years in commercial and BBC radio and TV, I am available as a conference host, panel moderator and oracy workshop facilitator for schools and trusts.

You can find me at AlBooth.co.uk

Or connect with me on LinkedIn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you'd like to be a guest on the show, drop me an email at: al@oracyandbeyond.com

"Oracy is like air because it's all around us. It's for everybody." - Hanna Beech

In this episode Hanna Beech discusses how oracy is like air: essential and omnipresent.

She talks about its role in fostering communication skills, personal development, and community connection.

We look at the importance of implementing oracy in schools, the importance of capability, opportunity, and motivation.

Hanna talks about:

1. Listening to the oracy that takes place all around us from Year 1s talking about Australia to school committees wanting bouncy castles.
2. She talks about how oracy brought her younger self to a place of confidence and calm.
3. The fun you can have implementing oracy both for adults and students.

As well as being a Regional Lead Practitioner and SCITT Programme Lead, Hanna is the author of 60-Second CPD: 239 ideas for busy teachers. (You can get her book here. )

Find Hanna on LinkedIn here.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, I'm Al. I'm the host of Oracy And Beyond, as well as a presenter, panel moderator and live event host.

Connect with me on LinkedIn here.

Or see me at my website: AlBooth.co.uk

--------------------------------------------------------

If you'd like to be a guest on the show, please drop me a line at: al@oracyandbeyond.com

"Teachers spend their whole life using their voice, so supporting teachers, not just in terms of how they teach oracy, but also in their own Orocy skills is very important." - Georgie Ross

As Oracy Coach at the English-Speaking Union Georgie Ross travels the world teaching and coaching in international settings to help people master the art of public speaking.

And in this episode of Oracy And Beyond, she offers solutions to the fact that teachers are tasked with teaching using oracy learning methods, often without having training in how to communicate.

Georgie talks about:

1. Helping classroom leaders understand the importance of the pause. (As a broadcaster of 25+ years I would gift everyone who has to speak publicly the gift of owning the pause. Bathe in it; it's frightening at first... but it gives power to your words.)
2. 
   
3. How Oracy learning and effective communication is crucial in an AI-driven world.
4. 
   
5. The moment entering a speaking competition when she was a shy child gave her a new level of confidence, and led her to helping others.

Georgie also talks about how Oracy is used effectively in working with others in countries outside of the UK, particularly in the Middle East.

You can find Georgie on LinkedIn by clicking this very link.

You can find out more about The English-Speaking Union by clicking right here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, I'm Al Booth. I am a broadcaster, event host, panel moderator, and podcast producer. (The freelance hat is wide and many-brimmed.)

Formerly a shy, unconfident child, I learned about Oracy after hosting a podcast workshop at my son's school... and fell down a rabbit hole.

Oracy is my passion, and speaking to like-minded experts on this podcast helps spread the word. (Is that a pun? It feels like it's teetering on a pun. Excuse it, if it is.)

If you would like to be on the show, please email me: al@oracyandbeyond.com

You can also follow the podcast on LinkedIn. I have called the page... Oracy And Beyond.

Or you can visit the website to see past episodes and to anticipate the blog that I fully intend to start writing... Again, it goes by the name Oracy And Beyond (with a .com at the end.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you would like to talk to me about hosting an event or moderating a panel for you, or if you'd like to just say "Hello" because it's good to talk, please find at on LinkedIn/AlBooth

Thanks for being here. I hope you enjoy the show.

"We're not born with language. We're born with communication, skills and desire, but we're not born with the words to get needs met." - Dr. Maddi Popoola

In this episode I am joined by Educational Psychologist and author of "Reimagining Education", Dr Maddi Popoola.

We go right back to the early stages of development i.e. in the womb, with Dr. Maddi asking when we should start to consider Oracy learning.

She looks at how confidence comes from inclusive learning, which stems from Oracy.

And Dr Maddi also shares not one but TWO stories of when Oracy has played a part in a child finding their voice in front of their peers.

You can get Dr Maddi Popoola's book "Reimagining Education" here.

Connect with Dr Maddi Popoola on her LinkedIn too.

She also hosts the NottAlone podcast along with Dr Orlaith Green which focuses on young people's mental health.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for listening to Oracy And Beyond.

If you have a passion for Oracy, for giving young people a voice through creating confidence, and you'd like to be on the show, please email me - Al@OracyAndBeyond.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm Al. I am the host of Oracy And Beyond, and an event host and panel moderator. If you have an education conference where you need a former BBC and commercial broadcaster to host a stage, come and find me on LinkedIN.

Thank you for listening.