Communication Skills

Body language sometimes expresses true thoughts and feelings more clearly than what is said. Oftentimes, the power of body language is underestimated as a tool of communication. Stance, arm and leg position, and facial expression are all subtle indicators of whether an interaction is friendly, hostile, anxious, relaxed, etc. Speakers may not realize that they are saying one thing, but their body language is communicating the complete opposite. This is so because moving parts of the body is so natural and habitual. Both students and teachers must pay special attention to movement to avoid sending mixed signals and to pick up extra clues. For example, an individual may appear to be listening intently to instruction, but his squirming and fidgeting reveal either boredom or that something else needs attention. A new topic or more interactive exercise can be introduced to recapture students’ interest, if that is the issue.

Similarly, teachers should be mindful of their own body language. Louise NewTeacher may introduce herself by saying, “I’m so glad to be here and look forward to working with all of you.” Students’ perceptions of the sincerity of her comment will be either confirmed or denied by how Louise presents it:

While most body language will not be so obvious, it does pay to remain alert to the signals received and given by all parties. When communicating, it’s also important to remain alert to the language used to convey messages. Language is appropriate according to the situation or circumstances. In the case of Eddie presented earlier, he learned that he cannot speak the same way to the corrections officers as he spoke to his peers. Interacting with Louise NewTeacher, he would probably speak more respectfully and use less slang due to the teacher/student relationship. Teachers may again find that role–playing different scenarios is an effective way for students to practice distinguishing what communication, both verbal and nonverbal, is appropriate when. Some possible scenarios are:

• Interviewing for a job.
• Conversing with buddies.
• Talking to family.
• Meeting with the parole officer.
• Defusing a tense situation.

Besides understanding the mechanics of both nonverbal and verbal communication, students should appreciate that communication is a tool for obtaining information essential to their well–being. Health care, conditional release information, family problems, and financial issues are but a scant sampling of the information that they will have to process in– or outside of the correctional facility. To effectively process, learners must be able to understand, discuss, and realize the impact of current issues on their lives. As an educational activity, reading and writing about current events should be encouraged.