No ..no…no, leave me alone…!’, the little girl kept crying. She held on to the door of the car, refusing to be pulled out by her frustrated mother. Her protest caught the attention of everyone in front of the school gate.
I watched the ‘drama’ with keen interest. I wondered what could be wrong with the little child. I could not curb my curiosity and so I decided to find out what was amiss. ‘Excuse me madam’, I said to the ‘poor’ woman. ‘What is the matter with her?’ I asked. It was such a pathetic situation. The woman was sweating profusely, her face wrinkled and her clothes rumpled. But I guess none of those compared to the embarassment she felt inside. She later confided in me that for her 6year old daughter to have the guts to create such a scene in front of the school…’is something seriously serious!, she lamented.
To cut a long story short, the scene was simply the climax of the little girl’s constant refusal to go to school, a recent development which the woman described as quite strange. According to her, Jane, ( that’s the girl’s name) once told her that she does not hear her teacher from where she sits in the class. Each time she complains, her teacher shouts on her. In fact, ‘her classes are boring!’. She concluded.
I quickly deduced that as a result of this one teacher’s attitude, Jane who hitherto, was an enthusiastic pupil, hated school. ‘Hmmm, what’s communication got to do with it?, I thought to myself. I could quickly relate; I keep coming across similar cases each time I visit schools to train teachers. Unfortunately, many schools and their teachers do not understand the importance of good communication in their institution.
The good news is that I was in this particular school on that fateful day to train their teachers on communication skills, public speaking, among others. Later that day, I identified Jane’s class teacher as Mrs Peters. We used her story as a case study and I am glad to inform you that once again, Jane looks forward to going to school everyday. Mrs Peters on the other hand, learnt to communicate better.
Communication for teachers is crucial! Your communication skill as a teacher can make or mar a child’s interest in learning. It goes beyond having the required certificate or qualification for your position. It transcends your background in educational ‘gymnastics’ or child psychology. It includes techniques to help your students understand what is being said. It encompasses your ability to interact competently with both your internal and external public. This includes your students, their parents, colleagues, administrators, e.t.c.
Teachers must be skilled communicators. How do you communicate effectively and relate positively? Here are some tips for you on how to improve your classroom communication not just for your student’s success, but also for the sake of your career.
1. VOICE
Endeavour to make a good use of your voice. Keep your voice interesting. Vary your tone and ensure to speak loud enough to be heard by everyone. In the case of Mrs Peters, she also learnt that it is better to move around in her class than to sit in one corner while teaching. Moving towards each pupil helps a child to develop a sense of belonging.
They can equally be motivated to build confidence in what you are saying. They are encouraged by such opportunity to digest information being given. The tone of your voice is equally important. A harsh tone repels, while a gentle tone soothes, encourages and motivates the child.
CHIAMAKA BOBBY-UMEANO
