ORAL ENGLISH FOR SECONDARY

SCHOOLS

THE VALUE OF ORAL ENGLISH

Good Oral English an Element of Success.-Every high school pupil should take as much interest in improving his oral English as he does in developing his body, for both are closely related to success in life. The man with little physical endurance, sees his stronger neighbors outdo him in efficient work and length of service. In a similar way, the man with a poor command of oral English, is compelled to see his rivals of better address win friends, secure positions, and gain promotions that he cannot attain. Skill in the use of the mother tongue is, therefore, a valuable asset to a man as well as a mark of his education. This being true, boys and girls cannot afford to persist in habits of speech that continually place them at a disadvantage.

THE VALUE OF A GOOD ORAL USE OF ENGLISH

Advantages at School. The advantages that result from a good command of oral English begin to manifest themselves very early. At school there is frequently recurring evidence that it pays to cultivate good habits of speech. In the mathematics class a boy may be able to work out a certain problem; but if his slovenly speech hinders him from making a satisfactory explanation, he cannot be credited with understanding it. A declension in German may be spoiled by faulty articulation, an answer to a question in English, by mispronunciation, and a statement of how to

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care for a plane in joinery may be made incomprehensible by awkward sentences. Other things being equal, the student with a fair command of spoken English will always outrank his classmate who has careless habits of speech.

Advantages in Social Relations.-Then, too, in meeting people in a social way a boy or girl finds it a great advantage to be able to talk well. Wherever one goes, he will make some kind of impression upon the people he meets. Whether this impression be favorable or not, will depend upon his general appearance, manners and conversation. Through his conversation he will reveal himself most, as it is easy to tell by the way he talks whether a boy is gentlemanly or ungentlemanly, modest or conceited, painstaking or careless, intelligent or ignorant.

The boy who carefully brushes his coat and combs his hair, but never tries to polish his speech, uses poor judgment; so does the girl who is fastidious regarding the colors of her dress, but makes no effort to soften the strident tones of her voice. Among people of real refinement slovenly speech and harsh voices are as unwelcome as slovenliness or lack of harmony in dress.

Advantages in Business.-Desirable as it is to be able to use oral English well in social relations, it is many times more so in business. Correct written English for business purposes has been much emphasized by textbooks and teachers; and its importance has not been exaggerated. But it is time that oral English, anticipating business needs, should receive more attention.

As soon as a candidate applies in person for a position, he is judged by his spoken English. No matter how excellent a letter of application he may have written, if he makes a poor impression in a personal interview with his prospective employer, his chances of securing the position are small.

No employer wishes a secretary with a high pitched, irritating voice; a mumbling clerk whose spoken words are seldom understood; a hesitating, stammering assistant who cannot answer inquiries promptly and briefly; a diffident salesman who cannot explain the superiority of goods and persuade a deliberating customer to buy; or a superintendent, discourteous in speech, who offends patrons and drives them

away.

We are obliged to admit that business people are more often judged by their spoken words than they are by their written ones; and that awkward conversation, slovenly utterance, incorrect pronunciation and disagreeable voices all count against them. Knowing this, all farseeing boys and girls will use much care in forming their habits of speech, in order that their spoken English may always be a help and never a hindrance to them in business.

Essential for Public Speaking.-Besides these every day advantages that come from a good command of oral English-advantages that should be more often pointed out to the youth of our country than they are there also results a better equipment for public speaking. To speak in public one must have confidence in himself, and confidence comes from the realization that one has something to say and can say it well. In a country such as ours, where democratic institutions impose many responsibilities upon the individual citizen, men are expected to participate in many public gatherings by voicing their convictions. We have political assemblies, business organizations, religious meetings, social clubs, athletic associations, leagues, circles and societies without number. In all of these, mutual interests must be discussed, and plans for new activities advocated; so there is always a demand for the person who can think upon his feet and state his ideas definitely and clearly. Such

a man, if he is upright and sincere, will become influential among his associates a leader among men.

Permanency of Attainments in Spoken English. The ability to use oral English effectively, cannot be attained suddenly, neither can it be assumed and cast aside like a garment. It must be developed gradually in the individual. A boy never becomes a good baseball player unless he is faithful in practice and heeds the advice of his coach; similarly without repeated efforts to read and speak well, and attention to the criticisms of his instructor, no pupil can hope to improve his vocal expression. There must be rightly directed and persistent effort if one wishes to improve his spoken English; but whatever proficiency is attained in this direction becomes a part of a man's stock in trade for life. The retention of the art of speaking, unlike vocal and instrumental music, does not depend upon practice. It is always at command-a permanent accomplishment.

THE DIVISIONS OF ORAL ENGLISH

How the Divisions are Related. Oral English includes (1) conversation, (2) reading aloud and (3) public speaking. In all of these the same organs of speech, the same words, and similar varieties of tone and physical response, are employed. Conversation and public address are most alike. Indeed, no distinct line of demarcation can be drawn between them, because formal conversation with a score or more of listeners has the semblance of public address, and a public address delivered in an intimate manner to a small audience has the semblance of conversation. Generally speaking, however, conversation is intimate and informal, as contrasted with the dignity of public address. Ability to converse well results partly from one's individual attain