Now we're Talking!
Hello, my name is Duana Quigley and I am youngballymun’s Oral Language Development Officer. I was delighted to start working with youngballymun’s Write-Minded service in June 2009. Prior to this I was employed by the HSE as a Senior Speech and Language Therapist - so some of you may know me through my previous work in local pre-schools, primary schools or have visited me in the Ballymun Civic Centre.
Oral language generally refers to our ability to talk, express ourselves and understand what others are saying to us. We start to develop our oral language abilities from birth and this continues right up to adulthood - I recently learned what a ‘dongle’ is! We use our oral language skills to understand what has been said to us, to understand what we have read, to communicate with others, share our thoughts, ideas and emotions. This makes it a fundamental life skill for learning, making friends and forming relationships. This is the reason that supporting oral language with all children in Ballymun from birth onwards is such an important part of what youngballymun is about.
If a child or young person is experiencing oral language difficulties, it can have serious knock-on negative effects. There is a proven link between oral language difficulties and literacy, learning, social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. For example, a child may be able to read a word in a book but not understand what the word means, and as a result may not be able to make sense of what they are reading. Similarly, a young person may not have the oral language skills to sort out problems with their friends or clearly express their thoughts leading to frustration, withdrawal or challenging behaviour.
It’s no surprise then, that a lot of emphasis is placed on oral language by our teachers and schools. Families and community organisations also play an essential role in supporting the development of oral language skills right throughout the lifecycle. Together, we can all make a difference to support the children and young people of Ballymun in developing their oral language skills, ensuring they have the best chances possible for happiness and well-being. I am really looking forward to being part of this shared project with all of you.
If you would like to find out anything about oral language or about Write-Minded, I’d love to hear from you – you can ring me on 883 2156 or email me at: duana@youngballymun.org
Best wishes,
Duana.
