Developing skills for effective learning

Part II – The clear, confident team player

This article is the second of a two-part series that will help students develop the skills he or she needs in life, and focuses on ways students can develop three major ‘social’ skills: communication, self-confidence and teamwork.

Communicating effectively

Clear communication is not just saying something but saying it in such a way that the listener understands it correctly. Students can develop their communication by:

–  Making an effort to listen closely to what someone is saying, and asking for clarification in case they are not sure of what the other person is trying to say. They can practice this with parents, teachers or friends in case they are uncomfortable practicing in public.

–  Practicing using different types of body language to understand what hidden messages postures and expressions can convey.

–  Reading, writing and active storytelling. Teachers and parents can encourage students to form informal groups and practice speaking about things that interest them.

Building self-confidence

Self-confidence is the belief in one’s ability to overcome challenges, and becomes especially important to a student during social and peer interactions. Here are a few ways in which a student can develop better self-confidence:

–  Trying out new experiences – up to a limit – will help a student overcome fear of the unknown and increase his or her confidence in their ability to deal with unexpected obstacles.

–  Parents and teachers can help students face their fears, support them if they fail at a task, and encourage them to try again.

–   Students can become socially more self-confident by interacting with other people outside their immediate environment, and taking on household responsibilities – such as shopping – that involve social interaction.

–  Giving students important tasks and responsibilities at home will also boost their self-confidence as they successfully carry them out.

Being part of a team

Being able to work well in a team is an important skill that students will need both in school as well as later in life. Many things can be accomplished as a team that cannot be achieved as an individual. A few ways in which students can learn teamwork are as follow:

–  Getting together regularly with a group of friends and working towards a common goal, such as forming a small musical group using whatever instruments are available.

–  Parents or teachers could organize role-playing games so that students can work together in different make-believe situations.

–  Students can also consciously practice giving each other sincere, precise compliments and avoiding criticism as an important part of working with others.

– Parents can help students develop empathy by encouraging them to talk to each other about their thoughts and feelings.