Oral tradition as a pedagogical strategy to strengthen communicative competencies in third grade students in a region of Córdoba (Colombia)

Abstract

This study describes an experience of strengthening communicative competencies in third-grade students of a rural educational institution, located in a region of Córdoba (Colombia), through the integration of oral tradition as a pedagogical strategy. The research was developed under the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, following a cyclical process of diagnosis, planning, action, observation and joint reflection. A mixed design was used to assess the evolution in the students' oral expression, listening, reading and writing, as well as their appropriation of local stories. Throughout the phases of the PAR, myths, legends, couplets and tongue twisters typical of the region were incorporated, which generated a motivating environment and an increase in participation. The findings show significant improvements in oral fluency, text comprehension, and cultural awareness. It is concluded that oral tradition, by connecting the school with the collective memory of the community, has a positive impact on the development of communicative skills and promotes the appreciation of the local context.