Another reason this strategy is effective for oral language skills is that:

The effectiveness of this strategy for developing oral language skills stems from the emphasis on understanding the main ideas and overall message of a story. When students practice getting the gist of a story, they enhance their comprehension and the ability to convey information clearly and understandably. This process encourages active listening, critical thinking, and the ability to summarize key points, which are essential components of effective oral communication.

Furthermore, being able to distill a story down to its main ideas equips students with the skills to engage in discussions, provide relevant responses, and articulate their thoughts concisely. This foundational skill lays the groundwork for more complex forms of communication and improves their overall language proficiency. Other strategies, such as memorization or outlining, while helpful in their own right, do not directly enhance the ability to grasp and express the essence of information in a communicative context as effectively as focusing on understanding the gist of a story.