--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We spend all our time teaching reading…" description: "\"We spend all our time teaching reading and writing. We spend absolutely no time at all, in most schools, teaching either speaking or, more importantly ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/julian-treasure-8346_education_we-spend-all-our-time-teaching-reading-a_1534207.jpg" --- # We spend all our time teaching reading and writing. We… ![“We spend all our time teaching reading and writing. We spend absolutely no time at all, in most schools, teaching either speaking or, more importantly still, listening.” quote by Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/julian-treasure-8346_education_we-spend-all-our-time-teaching-reading-a_1534207.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/julian-treasure-8346_education_we-spend-all-our-time-teaching-reading-a_1534207.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/julian-treasure-8346_education_we-spend-all-our-time-teaching-reading-a_1534207.jpg) > “We spend all our time teaching reading and writing. We spend absolutely no time at all, in most schools, teaching either speaking or, more importantly still, listening.” [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education often neglects speaking and listening, essential for effective communication. **In simple terms:** Schools ignore oral skills. Key Takeaway Integrate speaking and listening curricula. Themes education communication listening Mood inspirational educational Type motivational practical When to use this quote - classroom discussions - public speaking workshops - active listening drills Key Concepts pedagogy speech training Questions to Reflect On - How can schools prioritize oral skills? - What benefits arise from better listening? A Different Perspective Curriculum changes face institutional resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading and writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-and-writing/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I was raised in public schools, but from the word go, I never believed what the public schools were teaching me. Nor did I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-brook/i-was-raised-in-public-schools-but-from-the-word-go-i-never-believed/) [Peter Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-brook/) > [There are schools teaching 'stage decoration' as a subject, and they actually call it that. I say: 'Burn those schools!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/there-are-schools-teaching-stage-decoration-as-a-subject-and-they/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [“In other words, in an age of great shifts in education, very little has shifted when it comes to the teaching of adolescent readers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-gallagher/in-other-words-in-an-age-of-great-shifts-in-education-very-little-has/) [Kelly Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-gallagher/) > [Reading is the subtle and thorough sharing of the ideas and feelings by underhanded means. It is a gross invasion of Privacy and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-tevis/reading-is-the-subtle-and-thorough-sharing-of-the-ideas-and-feelings/) [Walter Tevis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-tevis/) > [I am not simply teaching the reading; I am teaching the reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-gallagher/i-am-not-simply-teaching-the-reading-i-am-teaching-the-reader/) [Kelly Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-gallagher/) > [When I went to school, I was already reading and writing. In fact, I was offended that the other kids couldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/when-i-went-to-school-i-was-already-reading-and-writing-in-fact-i-was/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“Reading and writing is an escape for me. Where I can imagine and become who I want to be when I want to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-frerichs/reading-and-writing-is-an-escape-for-me-where-i-can-imagine-and/) Zachary Frerichs > [Reading and writing are the same thing; it's just one's the more active and the other's the more passive. They flow into each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/reading-and-writing-are-the-same-thing-it-s-just-one-s-the-more/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [Both reading and writing are experiences--lifelong-- in the course of which we who encounter words used in certain ways are persuaded by them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/both-reading-and-writing-are-experiences-lifelong-in-the-course-of/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [Writing has always allowed me to escape. I was a very lonely child. Because I was very socially awkward, I would always have trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/writing-has-always-allowed-me-to-escape-i-was-a-very-lonely-child/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [“Somebody is observing my writings, I know that. That's one reason why I keep reading and writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/somebody-is-observing-my-writings-i-know-that-that-s-one-reason-why-i/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Reading and writing, like everything else, improve with practice. And, of course, if there are no young readers and writers, there will shortly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/reading-and-writing-like-everything-else-improve-with-practice-and-of/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I can't believe it! Reading and writing actually paid off!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/i-can-t-believe-it-reading-and-writing-actually-paid-off/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [Reading and writing isn't supposed to be this exclusive club; it's just supposed to be entertaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/reading-and-writing-isn-t-supposed-to-be-this-exclusive-club-it-s/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [“once computers gain good language understanding and we can speak to them, then reading and writing are going to seem cumbersome’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-humphrys/once-computers-gain-good-language-understanding-and-we-can-speak-to/) [John Humphrys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-humphrys/) ## More by Julian Treasure > [We have the capacity for about 1.6 human conversations, so if you're listening to one conversation particularly, you're only left with 0.6 for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/we-have-the-capacity-for-about-1-6-human-conversations-so-if-you-re/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [People find birdsong relaxing and reassuring because over thousands of years, they have learnt when the birds sing, they are safe; it's when birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/people-find-birdsong-relaxing-and-reassuring-because-over-thousands/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [In the U.K., architects train for five years, and they spend one day on sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/in-the-u-k-architects-train-for-five-years-and-they-spend-one-day-on/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [You or I never buy an Intel product explicitly, and yet their sonic logo is far better known and more powerful than its visual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/you-or-i-never-buy-an-intel-product-explicitly-and-yet-their-sonic/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [If you're surrounded by noise all the time, it has a pretty bad effect on the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/if-you-re-surrounded-by-noise-all-the-time-it-has-a-pretty-bad-effect/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [The need to be right can arise from a fear of being disrespected. Or it may come out of the fear of being seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/the-need-to-be-right-can-arise-from-a-fear-of-being-disrespected-or/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [People often mistake our mission at The Sound Agency for a crusade for silence, but actually, silence is in many ways just as bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/people-often-mistake-our-mission-at-the-sound-agency-for-a-crusade/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [I would suggest that our listening is the main way that we experience the flow of time from past to future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/i-would-suggest-that-our-listening-is-the-main-way-that-we-experience/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [In a room full of 60 to 70 people which is open plan and absolutely quiet, it's very intimidating to make a phone call.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/in-a-room-full-of-60-to-70-people-which-is-open-plan-and-absolutely/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [When you hear a child's voice, it will have that immediate effect of putting you in mind of looking after children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/when-you-hear-a-child-s-voice-it-will-have-that-immediate-effect-of/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [My mother, in the last years of her life, became very negative, and it's hard to listen. I remember one day, I said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/my-mother-in-the-last-years-of-her-life-became-very-negative-and-it-s/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [A sonic logo on its own isn't going to do very much. We get frustrated with smaller brands who come to us and say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/a-sonic-logo-on-its-own-isn-t-going-to-do-very-much-we-get-frustrated/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [Men tend to listen in what I call a reductive way, which is to say for a point, for a solution. You know, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/men-tend-to-listen-in-what-i-call-a-reductive-way-which-is-to-say-for/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [I have visited a number of boutique hotels where you feel there is a little bit of self-indulgence going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/i-have-visited-a-number-of-boutique-hotels-where-you-feel-there-is-a/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [I think it's pretty pointless, my children learning to use a keyboard - we will just talk to our computers. Why would we not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/i-think-it-s-pretty-pointless-my-children-learning-to-use-a-keyboard/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) [Explore all 81 Julian Treasure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We spend all our time teaching reading and writing. 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