Effective Communication is the key to building and fostering a safe learning environment for students. Establishing effective communication is integral for a child’s development and future learning.
Every school should have a free and non-judgmental environment to support open and crisp communication between teachers and students. Here, we shall try to understand some important ways by which effective communication skills can be fostered in students in their classrooms.
1. Safe Environment
As mentioned, students must be provided with a safe and positive classroom environment where they can express themselves easily and without fear or hesitation. And the role of a teacher is very significant here as they are responsible for enabling healthy communication between students.
Hence, the classroom environment should be such that all the students can freely and comfortably answer their questions without fearing being scolded or humiliated. A close look into the educating process at a good secondary school in West Singapore will help understand how a safe, happy, and inclusive environment can contribute to better student communication skills.
2. Involvement in Teamwork
Another way of encouraging student communication and cooperation is increased encouragement for their involvement in group activities. Working in a group or team helps develop a sense of responsibility among the students. At the same time, this helps shift their focus from competitiveness.
Furthermore, this also helps students to express themselves better while giving their bit in teamwork. At IB world schools, students are provided with lifelong and transferable skills as such skills prepare them for overcoming future challenges.
3. Appreciation and Feedback
Yes, appreciating students’ efforts and praising them for their good performance also bring out the best in them. Letting them realise that their efforts are appreciated and rewarded will boost their confidence. On the contrary, students will feel shy and refuse to communicate if the classroom environment is rigid and negative.
If they see that they are scolded or laughed at for what they are doing or asking, they will give up all their efforts in establishing any kind of communication in the classroom, which will affect their overall development. Allowing the students to speak their minds without getting judged is crucial for their communication skill development.
4. Teacher Must Be Active
The teacher must move around in the class and establish one-to-one connections with the students instead of just standing in front of the classroom.
In doing so, the teacher can participate in their activities and communicate with them more comfortably. The close presence of a teacher can encourage the quieter students to share their ideas and thoughts in a way that they feel most comfortable with.
5. Active Listening
Another important rule for effective communication is to be a good listener. A teacher is required to be a patient and active listener. Listening to students enables teachers to provide proper assistance and educate them better.
Similarly, it is also important that teachers make their students realise the value and importance of developing good listening skills in themselves. This will help the students better understand their lessons and other important instructions shared in the classroom. They can also connect better with their peer groups once they listen properly.
Conclusion
Students must be encouraged to develop effective communication skills at early stages through the teacher’s support and the classroom’s positive atmosphere. This will help them later in life, and they will learn to express their words and thoughts in the most participative and engaging manner.