Page 19 - 1A3 Teachers Book_7b2dd844

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Chapter Seven
Effective Classroom Communication
Introduction
1. Communication Loop
Effective communicators recognise that the meaning of their communication is the
response they get. To be an effective communicator, you need to engage actively in
the communication process:
• Pay attention to the way your communication is received.
• Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
• Be prepared to adapt the way you say things and pay attention to your body
language when you communicate.
2. Interpersonal, intrapersonal
• You need to focus on the way in which you communicate as well as what you
communicate.
• The emotional climate that you maintain in your classroom affects your learners
just as much as the quality of your lesson planning.
3. Automatic vs Conscious
Developing conscious awareness and attention is essential for effective
communication because it gives you the ability to manage better what you do and say.
In the classroom:
• Ensure clarity and focus of attention.
• Create variety and opportunities for as much conscious thinking as possible.
• Teach explicitly the routines and processes that you want to see in the classroom.
• Use strategies to enhance conscious awareness and improve memory when
learning.
4. Four keys to Improving Your Communication Skills
• Knowing what you want.
• Noticing whether you are getting what you want.
• Having the flexibility to change, and a toolkit of alternative behaviours and
attitudes that you can draw upon.
• Doing something about it - taking action.
Using Words to Influence
• Influential language in the classroom.
• Hidden meanings – presuppositions.
• Double binds.
• Don’t think of a pink flamingo.
• Don’t think about your rules.
• Using negatives to get what you want.
• Yes tags.
• Yes sets.
• Softly, Softly.
• Embedding instructions.
• Walking in other people’s footsteps.
• Connect for influence.
• Someone said.
• It’s just a story ... or is it?
• Time for a change.
• Language to reinforce learning.
• Words to use with care.