4 poor communication skills (and what to do about them)

Rachael Roberts
People of various backgrounds and ages standing together holding paper speech bubbles

How to help your students improve their general listening, speaking and understanding

Do your students ever display poor communication skills?

Most teachers will answer with a resounding yes. In fact, communication skills do not always come naturally to many people. Lets look at some of the most common and egregious errors people make when speaking and listening to each other. Ill also give you some valuable ways to help your students improve.

1. They dont even stop to breathe

If you find one student doing a LOT of talking, its probably because no one else can get a word in edgeways. It can be tempting to assume that this is because the chatty student thinks their ideas are better than anyone elses, but, in fact, it is often a sign of nerves.

Look more carefully and see if they appear breathless or anxious. Whatever the reason, this kind of student may benefit from a more structured approach where students are given time to prepare what they are going to say, and everyone is expected to contribute equally. Or make it into a game where students have to make sure that they speak for 50% of the time each, as would be expected in an exam situation.

2. They arent really paying attention to each other

Whether your students are looking at their phones, staring out of the window or cant wait to interrupt each other, poor listeners make poor communicators. Deal with this by always requiring the listener in any pair to do something specific. For example, tell them they will need to summarise what their partner said, or they have to think of three questions to ask their partner at the end.

We usually have a reason to listen in real-life communication, so make sure you give them one. Otherwise, they may assume that only the teacher needs to pay attention when another student is talking.

3. They ramble and its difficult to follow what theyre saying

Students may ramble because they are unconfident about the target language. Its fine for students to struggle a bit to communicate, but its sensible to set achievable tasks, or they may give up.

It could also be that they would benefit from more rehearsal and practice. Being able to speak fluently off the cuff is very challenging, particularly in front of an audience. Try giving students time to plan what they are going to say first. They shouldnt be reading off the page, but writing it first can help with confidence and fluency.

Repetition is also invaluable in building fluency. Try doing speaking tasks more than once, and see how the quality and quantity improves each time. You can ring the changes by swapping partners or changing the format from pairs to small groups, to the whole class.

4. They dont treat others feelings with respect

This can show itself in different ways. Maybe your students just completely ignore the feelings the other person is demonstrating or telling them about. Or maybe they dismiss them in other ways, Oh, exactly the same thing happened to me! I was just walking along

You can model better ways to respond yourself. For example, It sounds as if you feel quite angry about that?, That must have been really difficult.

This teaches students the kind of phrases they can use to validate, empathize and talk about emotions.

If you can deal with these problems, your students will be well on the way to becoming master communicators.

Contact us about how we can help improve your language teaching?

More blogs from app

  • Expressing love around the world: Interesting facts and how to say "I love you" in different languages

    By Sam Colley
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Love is a universal language that transcends borders, cultures and languages. For those learning another language, understanding how to express love in various tongues can be both fascinating and useful. Whether you're planning to travel, connect with friends from different backgrounds, or simply expand your linguistic repertoire, knowing how to say "I love you" in different languages as well as the cultural context, can be a beautiful way to show appreciation and affection. Let's take a look at some of the many ways to express this timeless sentiment and some interesting facts.

    1. Cultural nuances:

    In many cultures, the way you express love can carry different weights and meanings. For example, in Japanese, "ۤƤ" (aishiteru) is a very strong expression of love, often reserved for serious relationships, whereas "ä" (daisuki) is more commonly used among friends and family.
    However, French, often called the language of love, uses "je t'aime" to express love as a romantic phrase that can be used for both partners and close family members.

    2. Gender differences:

    Some languages have gender-specific ways of saying "I love you." For instance, in Arabic, "????" (a?ibbuka) is used when a woman says "I love you" to a man, and "????" (a?ibbuki) is used when a man says it to a woman. Similarly, in Hindi, men say "??? ????? ????? ???? ???" (main tumse pyaar karta hoon) and women say "??? ????? ????? ???? ???" (main tumse pyaar karti hoon).

    3. Formal vs. informal:

    Some languages have formal and informal ways of expressing love. In Spanish, "te amo" is more formal and used for romantic love, while "te quiero" is more casual and can be used for friends and family.
    ?

  • A teacher sat at the front of the class holding a book reading it to a class of young children who are sat on the floor

    Romantic Readers and classroom ideas to celebrate Valentines day

    By Iram Ahmed
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Love is in the air on February 14th, with hearts, red roses and boxes of chocolates everywhere. Were all set for the big day, and to help you prepare as well, here are six of our favorite love stories for learners of all ages and levels. There are also plenty of fun ideas for your classroom.

    1.?Cinderella?(Level 1)

    Poor Cinderella lives with her stepmother and two horrible stepsisters. They treat her badly, making her cook and clean, while they relax and wear beautiful clothes. However, one night, Cinderella gets the chance to sneak away and attend a fabulous ball. She meets a handsome princebut must run away before he discovers her true identity. With only a glass shoe to help him, will the prince ever find Cinderella?

    How to use this Reader in class:

    Its no surprise that the story has a happy ending. After reading the story, have the learners draw a picture and write about Cinderellas new life in the castle, with her loving new family.

    2.?Lady and the Tramp?(Level 3)

    This classic Disney story tells the tale of two young dogs who come from different backgrounds. Lady lives in a house while Tramp lives on the street. However, one day, Lady is forced to leave the house and the life she knows. Tramp teaches her about life on the streets and the two dogs fall in love but with the dog-catcher always chasing them, will the story have a happy ending?

    How to use this reader in class:

    After reading the story, why not watch the animated version with your students? They can choose their favorite character from the movie and write a description of them.

    Looking for more romantic Readers for young learners? How about?The Little Mermaid?(Level 2) or?Aladdin?(Level 5)? Theres something for everyone?in our catalog.

    3.?Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl?(Level 2)

    If your teenagers are looking for more adventure than romance, this Reader has both. Follow crazy Jack Sparrow, handsome Will and brave Elizabeth as they fight pirates and uncover the curse of the Black Pearl. But will Elizabeth and Will survive the dangerous life on the seven seas?

    How to use this Reader in class:

    After reading the story, why not ask your students to write a review of it? Its a great way for them to summarize the plot and share their opinion.

    4.?Pride and Prejudice?(Level 5)

    A timeless classic,?Pride and Prejudice?tells the story of young Elizabeth Bennett. As the oldest daughters in a family of five, she and her sister Jane are both expected to find good husbands and marry soon. But will Elizabeth find love, or will no man be good enough for her?

    How to use this Reader in class:

    While reading the story, learners can keep a diary, writing entries in the voice of Elizabeth Bennett. This helps them to demonstrate their understanding of the novel and encourages them to have a more empathetic reaction to the storys heroine. They can either write the diary entries using typical language from Jane Austens day, or updating it to more modern language.

    Heres an example:

    I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Darcy today and found him rather rude and reserved. I imagine he feels this country life is inferior and that the locals are uncultured simpletons!

    or

    Met Mr Darcy today C what a stuck-up dork! He just stood there, looking down his nose at everyone you can see he thinks hes better than us locals.

    If you think your teenage learners would enjoy a different modern or classic tale of romance, check out our readers?. There are plenty to choose from, including?Romeo and Juliet?(Level 3),?Love Actually?(Level 4) and?Madame Bovary?(Level 6).

    5.?Tales from the Arabian Nights?(Level 2)?

    What would you do if you needed to fascinate a king to save your life? This is the problem Sheherezade faces when she marries a king who has killed all his previous wives. So she tells her new husband exciting, mesmerizing stories every night and always ends the tale with the king wanting to hear more. She tells him stories of adventure, love and mystery and you can read her stories too in this Level 2 Reader.

    How to use this reader in class:

    After reading the book, have students vote on their favorite story from Sheherezade. They can then work in groups to present a short play of one of the stories, working together to write a short script.

    6.?Wuthering Heights?(Level 5)?

    Unfortunately, the path of true love isnt always easy. Set in 19th Century Yorkshire, this tragic romance follows the story of Catherine and Heathcliff. The two childhood friends grow up together very closely. However, although she loves him deeply, Catherine cant marry Heathcliff because of his lower social status. Instead, she marries another man, Edgar. How will Heathcliff react to this news? Will Catherine and Edgar be happy together?

    How to use this reader in class:

    At one point in?Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff runs away from home because he thinks Catherine is embarrassed by him and doesnt love him. Have the learners write a letter from Catherine to Heathcliff at that point, expressing her regrets about why they cant be together. It provides students with the opportunity to use phrases such as?If only,?I wish?and?I should have?whilst demonstrating their understanding of the novel so far.

    If Yorkshire moors and Arabian nights arent quite what your students are looking for, there are more tales of romance on our site. Choose from modern-day love stories such as?Notting Hill?(Level 3) and?Lisa in London?(Level 1) or classics like?Anna Karenina?(Level 6) and?Persuasion?(Level 2).

    If you enjoyed this post here are some more practical posts to get your students engaged in reading, 'How to bring Shakespeare to life in the classroom'?and 'How to motivate reluctant readers'.

  • Two people playing video games on the sofa together

    How video games help language learning

    By
    Reading time: 6 minutes

    The evolution of video games and global connectivity

    Video games have come a long way since their inception in the late 20th century. From the simple pixelated screens of 'Pong' and 'Space Invaders', we've entered an era where video games are complex, immersive and incredibly detailed. The evolution of video games has not only been technological but also cultural.

    With the rise of the internet and online gaming, players from different corners of the world can now connect, collaborate and compete in real-time. This global connectivity has transformed video games into a social platform, where language barriers are often encountered and interestingly, overcome.