Speaking Step 0

Outcomes

To achieve Step 0, learners will be able to speak clearly to someone that they know - perhaps to ask a question, talk about something they are familiar with, or give an answer to a question.

This is the first step of speaking in the Skills Builder Universal Framework, and starts with a focus on speaking clearly so that others can understand the words that are being said.

Learners need to be able to:

• Understand what speaking means

• Know how to speak clearly

Introduction

• Speaking is how we communicate using speech, and is also called talking. We form words using our mouths and add sound to them using our lungs.

• We speak for several reasons: 

  • To share information, an opinion or view

  • Express our feelings; to ask for something

  • Learn about others and build relationships

  • To give instructions and to encourage others.

Teach & Apply

• Speaking clearly means that someone else can understand what we are saying. If we don’t, then we might not be understood.

• Some ways of making sure we speak clearly are:

  • Thinking about what you want to say before you start speaking

  • Make sure you have the attention of the listener

  • Look at them and speak loudly enough so that they can hear

  • Speak slowly so that they can follow what you are saying

  • Do not try to say too much all in one go

Reflection & Assessment

Embed these strategies across your teaching and coaching to help learners apply what they’ve learnt.

• This step lends itself to regular reinforcement – particularly by asking learners to talk about their ideas or thoughts on something to a friend before talking about it in a bigger group.

Use these ideas for ways of assessing this skill step to help you check learners’ understanding and confidence.

• It is also possible to observe this step easily in the context of normal interactions within sessions.

• Ask these reflective questions:

  • What is speaking?

  • Why do we speak to each other?

  • How do we know if we are speaking clearly?