How Oral Learners Communicate
There are varying degrees of literacy from the tribal person who has never seen a word to the college professor who publishes in academic journals. Orality researcher Jim Slack developed a Learning Grid that expresses this continuum in five learning styles.
The Five Learning Styles
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Illiterate
- Cannot read or write
- Hears words but doesn't “see” them
- Words are pieces of sound and picture, not objects
- Words have no exact meaning
- Is an oral communicator
- The story is the dominant communication style
-
Functionally Illiterate
- Dropped out of school by grade 8, stopped most reading and writing
- May read simple materials but does not receive, remember, or share concepts through print
- Does not transmit values through print media
- Is considered to be literate by every country
- Is an oral communicator
- The story is the dominant communication style
-
Semi-Literate
- Is usually a high school graduate
- Functions in a gray transitional zone between orality and literacy
- Usually uses marginal skills in one context, i.e. work
- Is considered to be literate by every country
- Prefers oral communication
- Learns best and most easily via oral communication
-
Literate
- Is also called “functionally literate”
- Continued to use reading and writing beyond grade 10
- Can summarize what is read and heard and lists important points when taking notes
- Is comfortable with literate formats
- Learns and handles concepts in a literate manner
- Appreciates and responds to oral communication
-
Highly Literate
- Uses and develops literate skills daily
- Has usually attended university
- Is often a professional in a liberal arts field
- Has usually lost some oral communication skills
- Is a thoroughly “word culture,” print communicator
- Appreciates and responds to oral communication
Communicating to the Five Learning Styles
Stories communicate well to all five learning styles, especially when followed by discussion and dialogue. The differences are in the amount of exposition and explanation given during and after the story.
Illiterates and functional illiterates need to hear the story without any explanation at all. An explanation will actually hinder their ability to memorize the story, which is the only way they can retain it. Oral people understand the lessons that are embedded in the story and inseparable from it. The story is the message. Besides, a storyteller would not want to break the meter, rhyme and flow of the story according to their culture.
When having a dialogue about the the story, no exposition is needed for oral communicators. They will apply the story to their lives without exposition since they already tend to govern their lives by the stories they hear. Functional illiterates can handle a little exposition if they ask for it.
Semi-literates operate in a grey zone between illiterate and literate. They can handle a little explanation before or after the story and more exposition in the dialogue.
Literates and highly literates are more able and willing to pick apart and analyze stories. They can have more cultural and historical background along with the story, and they are able to discuss the nuanced meanings of individual words in the story. Summaries or outlines of the stories may be appreciated.
We all process stories differently, but everyone loves a good story!
The Learning Grid
Jim Slack's Learning Grid summarizes how to communicate to the five learning styles. Click the image for a PDF version of the Learning Grid to print or study more closely.
Take the Next Step
Contact us to learn more about how you can communicate the gospel to unreached, oral people. StoryRunners can help you or your staff get the training you need to be effective.
