Communication Skills

It is often difficult in the busy life of classroom practitioners to develop the skills needed to deal supportively and confidently with colleagues and students in terms of stress. This very practical program will provide teachers and Heads of Department with a repertoire of skills to calm the situation and focus on positive communication to manage the daily difficulties they face. It will be customised to meet the individual requirements of your school context and current issues.

The purpose of the program is to assist classroom teachers and those in positions of responsibility to more successfully manage difficult interpersonal interactions. Participants will learn how to manage themselves and others in situations of emotional tension and high anxiety.

This course is a skills training program. Participants will see communication skills demonstrated and then have the opportunity to improve their own skills in controlled and safe practice sessions. Participants will work with other learners in peer learning partnership groups.

The course also focuses on aspects of interpersonal skills such as:

• awareness and different types of self-awareness
• appropriate assertiveness
• the elements of responding to others, including the skills of immediacy and advanced accurate empathy
• skills for challenging others and helping other challenge themselves
• process management skills that assist one to know when to talk and when to listen.

Unhelpful responses to reluctance and resistance and productive approaches for dealing with reluctance and resistance are examined.

Please contact: Julie Thompson