Anyone can speak, but those who speak well have a distinct advantage. Knowing what to say, when and how to say it, and who to say it to can go a long way in accomplishing any goal. However, communication does not consist solely of speech and sounds. Communication also includes things like listening, body language, cultural awareness, and general social skills.

The Most Important Part of Communication
There are some people who are constantly talking, but they never stop and listen. As a general rule, such people are not very good communicators because they fail to understand that are two parties involved in every act of communication. The most important part of communication is listening, not talking. An effective communication strategy should be based on feedback from the person to whom the message is directed. In addition, the strategy should include tips and techniques for good listening, and encourage behaviors like active listening.

 

Teaching is based on communication, and a teacher who communicates effectively with his/her students is a great teacher. Communication in classrooms is more complex and unpredictable than in many other situations. As a teacher, understanding the unique features and functions of communication in the classroom is very important.

However, communication strategies for teachers extend beyond the classroom, and can be applied to parents as well.

 

Using Visual Aids

Some students are auditory learners, meaning they learn best when they hear the lesson. Other students are visual learners and need to see things in order to understand and remember them. Almost all teachers target auditory learners by speaking the lesson, but a visual aid can make it easier for visual learners to grasp the lesson. At higher levels of education, a power point presentation or other visual aid can provide a solid back up for the teacher’s spoken lesson, especially if the slides are printed out as handouts.

 

Talking and Listening

Some teachers, especially those who teach in high school or college, are prone to giving discourses. They recite their lesson without giving students time to ask questions or clarify things. To be an effective communicator, it is important to stop periodically and double check that the students are following the lesson. If they are confused by something, take the time to explain it a little bit more clearly. For best results, create lessons that look like essays, with introductions and conclusions that cover the basic gist of the lesson’s body.

 

Communicating Positively with Parents

Most parents expect to be contacted by their child’s teacher at some point during the year, though the exact schedule varies by school. Parents also expect those interactions to be negative and arise out of the child’s misbehavior. As a result, the interaction between the teacher and the parent are often hostile and negative. To prevent this, call the parents up periodically with positive updates. If the parents typically hear good things about their child, they will be more willing and able to discuss a potentially problematic situation.

 

Listening to Parents

The best way to have positive relationships with the parents is to listen to them. Parents don’t like to hear bad things about their children, but they also know their children best and want what is best for them. If parents are concerned about something, take the time out to explain the process to them. Clearly communicating with parents can go a long way to strengthening the relationship. Remember that an important part of listening to parents is taking their schedules into account and arranging meetings or phone calls at times that work best for them.

 

Learning Disabled Children

One of the issues with learning disabled (LD) children is their inability to understand abstract concepts. When communicating with an LD child, keep this in mind and focus on concrete details. Stay away from idioms, expressions, or complex examples that learning disabled children may take too literally. Of course, sarcasm with any group of students is generally considered inappropriate. Speak clearly and simply, and listen to the students if they indicate the pace is too fast for them. For more information on working with LD children, watch F.A.T. City and other works of Rick Lavoie.

 

Communication strategies for teachers can help improve the parent teacher relationship. They can also take a mediocre teacher and make him/her into every student’s favorite. Even in atypical cases, such as when working with a learning disabled child, communication strategies for teachers can help foster a better bond between the teacher and student.

 

The course is structured in 7 days excluding travel days and is divided into 5 modules:

Module 1: Communication in the Classroom

Module 2: Effective Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

Module 3: Structure of Participation Module 4: Using Classroom Talk to Stimulate Students’ Thinking Module 5: Effective Communication Techniques for Teachers Assessment

1 day will be dedicated to visits to schools, companies, local authorities and potential partners (PBA Partnership building activity)

1 day will be a cultural visit to another context

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After completing this course the learner will be able to:
- Identify and correctly make use of the different functions which communication serves in the classroom;
- Effectively use and understand verbal and non-verbal communication;
- Identify and describe the four main participation structures that guide communication in ways expected by the class, including their advantages and disadvantages;
- Use communication in the classroom to stimulate students’ thinking;
- Identify the differences between how a teacher uses communication and how a student uses communication;