Speak, Read, Write, Connect: Building Confident Communicators at NAS Jakarta
WHAT MAKES NAS JAKARTA SO SPECIAL?
At Nord Anglia International School Jakarta (NAS Jakarta), we believe that supporting children’s communication and literacy skills is an important part of helping them thrive, both inside and outside the classroom.
This belief was at the heart of a recent parent and caregiver workshop at NAS Jakarta, led by Mr. Binh Doan, Certified Practising Speech Pathologist and founder of Speakable. Bringing families together for an engaging, practical learning experience, the session explored how speech, language, reading and writing work together to support children’s developmentand how parents can nurture these essential skills at home.
Understanding the Connection Between Speech, Language, Reading and Writing
Children develop communication and literacy skills through a connected process. The ability to understand language and express thoughts verbally provides an important foundation for learning to read and write. As children encounternew words, stories and ideas, their vocabulary and understanding continue to grow.
These skills play a vital role in a child’s educational journey. They help children participate in classroom discussions, communicate their needs, share their ideas and build meaningful relationships with peers and teachers.
Understanding this connection enables parents and educators to recognise the many ways children learn and communicate, while identifying opportunities to support their continued development.
Practical Ways Parents Can Support Learning at Home
One of the highlights of the workshop was its interactive approach. Rather than simply listening to a presentation, parents and caregivers took part in group discussions, explored real-life examples and shared questions about their children’s communication and learning experiences.
Mr. Doan encouraged parents to focus on small, practical changes they could introduce at home to support their children’s speech, language, reading and writing development. These everyday strategies can make learning more meaningful while helping children build confidence and independence.
Four simple ways to make a difference at home:
SPEAK – Give children more processing time. After asking a question, allow your child time to think and formulate a response instead of rushing to fill the silence.
READ – Ask one inference question. Go beyond what happens in the story by asking questions such as, “Why do you think the character did that?” This encourages children to think more deeply, make connections and explain their reasoning.
WRITE – Talk and plan before writing. Help your child organise their thoughts and discuss their ideas before putting them on paper. This can make writing feel more manageable and support clearer expression.
CONNECT – Ask a specific question about their day. Instead of asking only, “How was school?”, try “What was something interesting you learned today?” or “What made you laugh today?” Specific questions can open the door to more meaningful conversations.
Alongside these four strategies, Mr. Doan highlighted several important principles for parents to keep in mind:
Model rather than constantly test.Show children how to use language and approach tasks through everyday interactions, rather than repeatedly testing what they know.
Give children time to process.Allow them to think, understand and respond at their own pace.
Support the task without doing it for them. Offer guidance and encouragement while giving children opportunities to develop their own skills and independence.
Protect the connection. Remember that communication is about relationships as well as learning. Creating a supportive, pressure-free environment helps children feel comfortable expressing themselves.
These small, consistent changes can create valuable opportunities for children to expand their vocabulary, strengthen their literacy skills and communicate with greater confidence. They also remind parents that supporting learning does not always require additional lessons or complicated activities; often, it begins with how we talk, listen, read and connect with our children every day.
Empowering Teachers to Support Every Learner
Alongside the parent and caregiver workshop, Mr. Doan also delivered a separate professional learning session for NAS Jakarta teachers.
The session deepened teachers’ understanding of speech, language and literacy development, particularly as they conduct assessments and interpret observations of student learning. By strengthening their knowledge of how these skills are connected, teachers can gain further insight into students’ communication abilities and learning needs.
This understanding helps inform thoughtful teaching practices and supports teachers in identifying appropriate next steps for each child.
At NAS Jakarta, professional learning is an ongoing process. By investing in the knowledge and expertise of our educators, we aim to create learning experiences that respond to children’s individual development and help them build the skills they need to progress.
Learning Together at Nord Anglia International School Jakarta
At NAS Jakarta, we recognise that children learn best when the adults supporting them work together. Collaboration between parents, caregivers and teachers helps create a consistent and encouraging environment in which children can develop their communication skills, curiosity and confidence.
Through expert-led workshops and opportunities for shared learning, we aim to equip our community with practical knowledge that can make a meaningful difference to children’s everyday experiences.
Whether a child is developing early language skills, discovering the joy of reading or learning to express more complex ideas, every stage offers an opportunity to grow.
Discover the NAS Jakarta Learning Experience
Choosing the right school means finding a learning environment where your child can grow academically, socially and personally.
If you are exploring international schools in Jakarta and would like to learn more about our approach to education, we invite you to discover the NAS Jakarta community.
Contact our Admissions team to arrange a campus visit and learn more about our educational approach.
📧 admissions@nasjakarta.sch.id
📞 +62 811 9727 979
🌐 www.nasjakarta.sch.id
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