Communication Skills

General Tips

As teachers, we would need to communicate with many stakeholders on a daily basis - from students, to parents, to colleagues and to the school leadership management. When we plan events, the list only gets longer. We would need to communicate to food caterers, guest-of-honour, canteen operators, vendors, media etc. Daunting isn't it? But here are some tips to help :)

Before any form of communication, there is a need to identify the...

PAC

Purpose - What is the reason for communicating this message?
Audience - Who are they? What do they need from this interaction? How will my audience affect my message?
Context - under what circumstances am I making this communication

before deciding on the appropriate language, tone and method of dissemination.

Planning an event

Establishing a Communication Plan

WHY HAVE ONE?

A communication plan allows one to

involve all relevant stakeholders in a more coordinated way
anticipate potential problem
engages proactive rather than passive engagement with stakholders
provides overview of communication process

A communication plan involves the following key stages

Planning
Implementation
Review

An example of a communication plan

Oral Communication

DID YOU KNOW?

Public Speaking is listed as America's #1 fear, even before death and loneliness.

REALLY?

Stage fright

Symptoms

Shaky hands
Trembling lips
Darting eyes
Stammering & pause fillers
Distracting gestures
Needless pacing
Cold hands & cold sweat

Factors contributing to stage fright

Poor preparation
Fear of audience and evaluation
Inappropriate self-expectations
Not understanding body’s reactions
Wrong focus
Self expectation

Coping with stage fright

Tips to cope with stage fright

Know that nervousness is usually invisible to the audience
Convert the nervousness into positive energy
Relax and practice some deep breathing techniques
Begin in your comfort zone
Check out room first before the actual speech/presentation
Go through script and flow of lesson
*ENJOY – enjoying something makes it harder to fear it at the same time
Practice in front of full length mirror or take a video of yourself

Making Good Presentations

Good Presentations

Visual Aids
Well Rehearsed (at least 3 times) - video tape yourself
3 main key points (any more and the audience won't remember)
Tell a story to make a point
Have a catch phrase (<10 words) that is woven frequently into speech
High Energy
Involve the audience
Maintain good eye contact
Inject Humour by
- Going against audience expectations and
- Using self-deprecating humor

Craig Valentine

Aces of public speaking

Types of Humour

Physical - Slapstick, funny expressions, body mishaps
Self-Deprecating - Making yourself the butt of the joke
Surreal - Pretty weird, nonsensical events, absurd situations
Improvisational - jokes made on the spot tend to be funnier and even more impressive
Wit-Wordplay - Puns and twisting language to get funny results
Topical - Leveraging on niche knowledge in a particular field and putting a humorous spin on it
Observational - Pointing out humour/irrational bits of everyday life
Bodily - Slightly different from physical as this has everything to do with farts or other bodily functions
Dark - Depressing dark themes that underline your humour

If you are not careful, you may make others laugh... at your pronunciation too!

Beware of Commonly mispronounced words

Academic: air –ca –de-mic
Colleagues: Call-league
Character: Care-rect – ter
Film: Fill – ummm
Opportunity: Op – Per - Tunity
Plumber: Plumm – er
Climber: Clim – er
Diameter: Die - air - meter
Diagram: die – gram
De bris: Dere - bri
Debtor: Deb - tor

British Pronunciation in contrast to Singaporeans' Pronunciation.

Check out more commonly mispronounced words made by Singaporeans in this video

How many of these mistakes are you guilty of?

Big Group

Small Group

In a smaller group,

Use smaller hand gestures and actions
Less pacing as there is no stage
More interactive - you can involve your audience directly
Eye contact can be on the individual rather than in a certain direction
Expressions can be less vivid

Hand Gestures

Do Not

Put arms behind in senang-deri position. You are not in army.
Put hands on crotch. You are not defending against a free-kick
Cross your hands across your body - it signifies a closed, somewhat disgruntled posture
Pointing at people

Instead

Clasp hands naturally around waist level
Use hands to list
Vary size of hand gestures - but most hand gestures should stay within top of chest to bottom of waist for formal speeches
Use the steeple when being thoughtful
Use the open relaxed palm to point at people

More Hand Gestures

Eye Contact

Do you realise that you lose interest very quickly in a conversation whereby the speaker does not even give you eye contact?

Well, then make sure you don't make the same mistake.

Avoid sweeping/shifty eye contact - they make you seem insincere or sneaky.

Instead, look at a person for a few seconds before shifting your eyes to another in the room.

This also allows the person time to acknowledge your eye contact.

From the Heart

Sometimes, speaking from the heart can warrant undivided attention from the audience.

Check out SSevern Cullis-Suzuki evern Cullis-Suzuki who silenced the world with her speech.

Written Communication

Letter

Email

Things to Note

Words/phrases to avoid:

"Please", "Kindly" as this words can come across as top-down, as though its a polite order.
"I would be available at __________." may be inappropriate as it suggests that your availability comes first and that the other party is expected to fit your schedule.
"Feel free to..." may come across as though you are giving permission or authorising the other party.

Possible ways to rephrase the following:

“I’ve put my assignment in your mailbox. Please go and check if it is there”
- Dear Prof, I have left my assignment in your mailbox. Could you let me know if you have received it?
Feel free to comment.
- If you have any comments, it would be greatly appreciated.
I am available for a meeting this afternoon.
- Would you be available for a meeting on ______ at your convenience?
Do you have any enquiry?
- Do you have any queries?
I look forward to your reply.
- I would appreciate it if you could give us a reply by __________.

Funny English Videos

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