Communication Skills for
Teachers
Dr. Dilip Barad
Dept. of English, Bhavnagar University
dilipbarad@gmail.com
5th May, 2009: Friday
ASC, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad

Plan of Action
• Introduction: What is communication?
• Importance of communication – esp for teachers?
• Why/how teachers fail – bulgaria? Penny
• Important points to be a good communicaitor in the classroom…
• Types of learning styles:
• Follow-up action in communication with the help of technology –
sms/email/scrap/tweet/forum/
• Uploading lesson plans/classroom presentations on websites/SIGs-
yahoo- Google
• Real life situation: Group activity: Discuss your communication
problems and how you try to overcome them?

Myth Vs Reality
Communication Myths Communication Reality
Communication is a conscious / deliberate Communication is an unconscious process
process. (e.g. Osho’s visit to disciple, and it goes on at every moment of time!
father-2 son,)
We communicate primarily through We communicate through ‘verbal’ as well
‘words’ only. (Vodafone) as ‘non-verbal signs.
Words mean the same to everyone. Meaning of the words lies more in
(Pardon, women) perception of reality. (Idea ? EduSpread or
joblessness)
Communication is a one-sided process Communication is a two-way process and
and it is controlled by communicator. it always happens, controlled by none.
Message sent and message received are Transmission and reception of message
the same. (see next slide for e.g.) can never be identical.

http://www.towerofpower.com.au/the-greatest-15-myths-of-communication

Introduction:
• Morgan, Algiro L. in his paper ‘Communication
Skills for Teachers’
• “One of the most neglected aspects of teacher
training is thorough preparation in the diverse
communication skills that are needed by good
teachers in today's schools.”

Why doe he say so and what does he
mean by it?
• Why: What do you mean by communication?
• Peter Little: “Communication is the process by
which information is transmitted so that an
understanding response results.”
• Lyndsay Swinton: “It's not about whizzy
powerpoint slides or wordy reports. Effective
communication is about being understood.”
• Success comes in direct proportion to the
command one has over communication.
• Knowledge is power – but it is potential power –
it should be acted upon – otherwise . . .

Algiro Morgan
• “Pre-professional teachers require a grounding in
communication theory, a thorough knowledge of
how children acquire competence, an
understanding of how language is used, an ability
to discern and to respond sensitively to the body
language used in a communicative transaction,
rhetorical skills for the organization and delivery
of specific knowledge and skills, and a grounding
in group dynamics and group discussion skills.”

Communication Skills for teachers
• Teaching is generally considered –
– 50% knowledge and
– 50% interpersonal or communication skills.
• What consists of this communication skills?

Six Important Points: CS 4 T
• Positive Motivation: create interest, enthusiasm, remove
fear and inhibition.
• Effective Body Language: Gestures, body movement with
verbal skills – never sit and teach - Moving in aisles.
• Sense of Humor: do not confuse dirty jokes with humour.
• Understanding the Students: prefer dialogue over
monologue – listen students’ opinion.
• Team Formation: helps in mutual
understanding students as well as teacher.
• Technical skills: Up-to-date with latest
techno-tools for teaching.

Is it as easy as it is said???
• No… it is not that easy. To learn to
communicate is a difficult task.
• Some teachers can produce the effect – quite
effortlessly…. Others die hard to, but never
succeeds!!!
• Are teachers born or made???Penny Ur –
1997, conference presentation:

Penny Ur - 1997
• In this respect she identifies some essential
qualities, which relate to teaching rather than other
professions:
•
– I sense where the learner is at, what their problem is: I feel
what they know and what they don’t know.
– I know how to transform what I know about the language
into a form that is accessible to my learners
– I know how to design and administer activities and
exercises that will foster learning
– I know when learning is and is not happening by the way
the learners behave: I don’t need tests
– I get my ‘buzz’ from when the students
succeed, learn, progress

Very important to remember whil
teaching: various Learning Styles:
• Auditory Learner: It is a learning style in which a
person learns through listening.
• Visual Learner: Itis a teaching and learning style
in which ideas, concepts, data and other
information are associated with images and
graphs/charts/playcards.
• Kinesthetic Learner: It is a teaching and learning
style in which learning takes place by the student
actually carrying out a physical activity, rather
than listening to a lecture or merely watching a
demonstration.

How to identify them?
• Auditory Learner:
• Visual Learner:
• Kinesthetic Learner:

Use of technology as follow-up actions
in communication skills
• Pedagogy is evolving with newer technological
aids for better communication in classroom.
• Various ICT components helps teacher in
enhancing their skills in teaching.
• It also has its deep rooted impact on the
learning of the students.
• Here, we discuss how can we sharpen our
communication skills by using it for
follow-up actions?

• SMS, email, scrap, tweet, chat, web spaces, SIG, etc
can be used effectively for:
– Replying questions of the students
– Solving their doubts/queries etc
– Giving some task for next class in advance
– Having group discussion out of the class
– Uploading lesson presentation to web
spaces
– Running web sites with LMS to check
students progress
– Managing e-groups (SIGs) – file
upload, poll, discussion, photos etc.

Real life classroom problems in
communication !!!
• Group activity:
• Discuss with your partners some of
communication crisis you faced in your classroom
and how did you manage to overcome it?
• The group representative will present the report
of their discussion.
• 20 mins for discussion
• Each group representative will get 5 mins to
present their discussion.

Thank You…
• Questions????
• Before you ask, please view next slide!
• References
• Cullen, R., 1998, “Teacher talk & the classroom context”, ELTJournal 52/3
• Gower,R., Phillips,D. & Walters,W. 1995, Teaching Practice Handbook, Heinemann
• Malamah-Thomas, A. 1987, Classroom Interaction, Oxford University Press
• Ur, P. ,1997, “Are teachers born or made?”, IATEFL UK conference proceedings
• http://searchwarp.com/swa10270.htm
• http://www.latitudes.org/articles/learn01.html
• http://successfulteaching.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-teach-tactile-
kinesthetic.html
• http://www.educ.uvic.ca/epls/faculty/rowles/301.htm
• http://www.studyingstyle.com/auditory-learners.html
• http://www.wikipedia.com
• http://www.abbahomeschool.com/typestyle.html

Dr. Dilip Barad can be contacted @...
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