Click here to watch the video💚👉The Art of Effective Communication by Marcus Alexander Velazquez.TEDxWolcottSchool
Communication has been a routine activity of man. We communicate with our family members, friends,
colleagues, church members, groups, etc. Teaching and learning; not
exempted.
According to the dictionary meaning: Communication is simply imparting or exchange of information by speaking,
writing and some other medium.
Features of Effective Communication
Mutual respect
In teaching and learning culture, there is something
called the Teacher-Learner Relationship. Effective communication is one of the
powerful forces that drives this relationship. It is possible for a teacher to
just pass and receive information from his or her learners, talk and write for
them without effectively communicating. Effective communication is beyond all
of that, it involves mutual respect as the entry point, eye contact, body
language, and Positive verbal and non-verbal expressions. Respect is in both
ways. Teachers are to have respect for learners in their dealings and in turn,
receive that from their learners. With respect, learners are greatly valued.
Once they are valued, eye contact and body language, verbal and non-expression
will be positive. Yeah
I must state here that we need to be careful with our
non-verbal expressions because it speaks volume. It can be interpreted wrongly
According to Zig Ziglar "In many ways, effective communication
begins with mutual respect, communication that inspires, encourages others to
do their best".
When communication is not accompanied with respect, it
might be understood as harassment and over time, the person or people involved
at the other end might begin to lose interest. In the teaching and learning
culture, communication must be carefully handled to make it effective.
Teachers need to communicate effectively with their
learners and at the same be ready to allow their learners to communicate with
them. It is never a one-man show.
In my years of practice as a teacher, I have taught a
lot of learners and most times when you ask them what they admire in teachers,
they will tell you that they love the way some teachers or a particular teacher
talks to them' That is an undertone feeling of being respected and loved. So
communication is a carefully planned concept that must begin with great tone
and respect.
Everyone wants to be valued. Word usage tones and body language should be paid attention to.
Effective communication should embrace Listening
Effective communication must involve listening. Both
parties must know when to pause talking and listen. This requires self-discipline.
Most times in teacher-centered settings, teachers tend to talk more without
allowing the students to make any contributions. Learners tend to bottle their
opinions in this kind of setting because their opinions do not count much. This
is not supposed to be so because, in a communication setting, the voice of both
parties matters. So, in the teacher-learner relationship, I encourage teachers to
listen to the learners too because they are part of the relationship.
Effective communication should be encouraging,
motivating, and inspiring
.The choice of words matters in teaching and learning.
In our communication with our students, we should endeavour not to use words or
actions that will tear the learning
walls down. We should try as much as possible to give feedback that will
improve learning. Praise the learners in their areas of achievement, motivate
and reward them intrinsically, and encourage them to work on their weaknesses.
Words and actions are powerful. With effective communication, we inspire our
learners to participate in activities they may ordinarily not want to
participate in. There is nothing as powerful as inspiring our learners because
it brings out the best in them. Fuel your learners with, encouraging, and
inspiring words. Do not forget that. Effective communication should be able to
bring out learners from yes or no corners and put them in a platform where they
can be able to express themselves. Learners should not be held hostage
Effective communication should foster a positive
connection
Communicating with our learners involves building a
powerful connection. It is one of the best ways learners positively connect
with their teachers and until that link is established, there may not be a
smooth flow in learning. Teachers want their learners to understand them and learners
want to be understood. So it is not all about talking, talking but effectively
interacting with your learners in an inspiring and meaningful way. Effective
communication is crucial in a teacher-learner relationship because without it,
that link might not be established and learning may not take place as expected.
Mutual understanding
Of what use is communication when both parties do not
understand themselves? Teachers should ensure that learners understand them and
learners should acknowledge that they understand. If your learners cannot use
the information you provide to work, it does not make sense.
In the classroom and outside the classroom,
information, feelings, Ideas, and thoughts are exchanged. Where to sit and what
to do during the lesson should be effectively communicated to learners. They
should understand clearly the rubrics and the criteria for assessment Class
rules should be clearly stated. The timetable should be handy to avoid
confusion of any kind. On no account should learners be left in a dilemma.
There must be an effective communication flow between the teacher and the
learners.
.As a teacher, do not use what we call in quote
"big words). Use words and sentences that learners can run with. Do not
try to be too difficult. Explain things the way they should be. Understand and
be understood as well. Do not give your learners bulky notes to write. Make
your note concise and meaningful. Simplicity is the key. Remember, it is all
about learning. Encourage your learners to politely tell you where they are not
clear at any point in time. Help them to build that confidence. To foster
mutual understanding there must be an effective communication flow.
Effective communication embraces diversity
Tony Robins said it all
"To
effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way
we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our
communication with others."
The academic world is a diverse one with learners from
different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. That must be consciously remembered.
Every teacher should endeavour to respect learners' differences in the course
of communication to avoid subtle insults and victimization which might
negatively affect learning. A lot is involved in effective communication. How the
teacher passes the information is important but more importantly is how the
learners receive the information. We can respect our diversity through positive
verbal and non-verbal expressions, pictures, and so on
Can effective communication skills be learned? Yes
In agreement with Brian Tracy
It is all about determination and hard work. Be
intentional about professional development and get trained in that aspect.
Study wide and attend workshops.
*There are a lot of credible online resources in that
regard. Utilize them and be better*
Additional resources
(Effective communication skills: Successfully share your vision and ambition)
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