Lesson 7: Communication Skills - Listening and Speaking
This lesson focuses on one of the essential interpersonal workplace readiness skills-Communication Skills: Listening and Speaking.
Objectives
- Define what makes listening and speaking effective.
- Recognize and practice strategies for listening and speaking in the workplace.
- Recognize the importance of good communication skills.
Materials
- Instructor Presentation: Lesson 7 Listening and Speaking (Powerpoint)
- Instructor Presentation Icebeaker Activity: Guess Who (Powerpoint)
- Student Workbook: Workplace Readiness Skills Workbook Lesson 7 (Powerpoint)
- Knowledge Check: Lesson 7 Pre-Check and Post-Check (PDF)
Expanding Your Knowledge
These optional activities and resources can reinforce lesson objectives in the home, engage families, or supplement classroom instruction.
Learning from Experience: Mock Interviews
Provide students with a copy of Page 5 (My Interview) of their WRS Lesson 7 Workbook. Invite guest speakers (e.g., community representatives, employers, coaches). Pair each student with a guest interviewer. The guest will ask the student the questions listed at the top of the document. Next, have the interviewers review the rating at the bottom of the document and provide immediate feedback to the students. Rotate students to a second interviewer as time permits.
Non Verbal Communication at Work
Share this brief video on non-verbal communication in the workplace. Ask students to give examples of non-verbal communication they use or observe in school and at home.
“Pass the Ball” Game
Goal: Students practice their listening and speaking skills by listening to a peer and practicing speaking by repeating or adding to what was said.
Materials
- A set of picture cards (foods, school items, community helpers, occupations, etc.)
- A soft ball (e.g., an inflated beach ball, a Nerf ball)
Steps
- Introduce the Game: Explain in plain language: “We are going to practice listening and talking. When you have the ball, it’s your turn to talk. Everyone else listens.”
- Start the Round: The teacher shows a picture card to the first student (example: a pizza). The student holds the ball and says the word or a short phrase about the picture (“Pizza” or “I like pizza”).
- Pass and Repeat: The student passes the ball to the next peer. That student repeats the word/phrase, or adds a single idea (“Pizza is yummy”). Continue around the circle until everyone has had a chance to speak.
Repeat the game as time allows. For nonverbal students, allow use of AAC devices, pointing, or gestures. Praise students for both their listening and speaking skills.
Additional Resources
These additional resources support the content in the Pre-ETS Toolkit and provide even more ways to help students plan for the future.
Improving Communication Skills
This website provides additional resources for improving communication skills.
Workplace Readiness Toolkit: Listening and Speaking
This document provides 3 activities that can be conducted in school or at home with family members to reinforce listening and speaking skills. It is one of the lessons found in the Workplace Readiness Toolkit, a publication from the VCU Center on Transition Innovations.
7 Engaging Listening Activities for Small Groups
This webpage offers 7 activities to reinforce listening and speaking skills for students of all ages and abilities. The activities can easily be connected to career and workforce preparation topics.