Teaching Social Communication Skills to ESL Kids
The Five Key Social Skills ESL Students Need to Know
Sep 12, 2009
Public speaking is considered a highly valuable skill, yet very few students learn how to do so in school. Newcomers and second language learners are at an even greater disadvantage with their limited English and fear of making mistakes. 7% of the population suffers from a form of social phobia, including a fear of interacting with others. Teachers can help by teaching the five key social skills to students in their class.
Teaching Eye Contact
Students from Asia will need a lot of practice making eye contact. Eye contact is considered disrespectful and most students will look at the ground. It is important to teach the differences in the American culture.
Students need to understand that eye contact is a basic skill in communications. Avoiding eye contact implies dishonesty in the American culture. Allow students to work with a partner. Eye contact shows them that their partner is paying attention.
The Signs of Active Listening
Students need to learn the behavioral signs of listening. The most important step is to stop and give full attention to the speaker. Students should not be watching the group next to them or continue working on another assignment. Leaning slightly towards the speakers demonstrates that the listener is interested. The listener should nod from time to time to show that he is still listening. Finally the listener should rephrase what the speaker said.
Second language learners can practice active listening using "My Turn, Your Turn." This structured language practice strategy gives ESL students the confidence to speak English in class. One student says a sentence. The listener demonstrates active listening by repeating the exact same sentence back to the speaker. Repeating does not require as much English skill, but gives the listener a chance to practice spoken English in a nonthreatening environment.
Learning How to Take Turns
Taking turns is a social skill everyone needs to learn. A conversation requires that both people understand how to take turns. If both people tried to speak at the same time, nobody would hear anything. Using "My Turn, Your Turn," students learn when it is their turn to speak. The first student holds her palm against her shoulder to indicate she is speaking. Her partner listens to her ask a question. When the first student finishes speaking, she brings her palm down until it is facing the ceiling. This signal indicates she is finished and her partner can answer.
When using "My Turn, Your Turn" with responses, start with simple questions. Newcomers can work with personal questions such as “What is your first name?” or “Where do you go to school?” As the year progresses, students can share answers to discussion questions.
Speak Clearly so Everyone Can Hear
Students yell and scream in the yard, but when they need to talk in front of the class, they tend to mumble. They cover their mouths with the book when they read out loud. Students need to understand that speaking clearly is important. Nobody will listen when they can’t understand what is being said. Speaking with emotion can also affect listening. It is hard to listen when the speaker uses a flat tone.
Second language learners tend to mumble when they encounter words they don’t know. When focusing on speaking clearly in the classroom, use phrases and things that students know well. Practicing also helps students speak clearly. Before students give reports to the class, they should practice with a partner.
Accepting and Providing Feedback
Students need to learn how to give and accept praise and criticism. After students give a report, the class should give three praises. The praises need to be specific so that the student knows what was done correctly. Criticisms should be given as suggestions on how to do it better the next time. There should be a limit of three criticisms. Finally students can comment on what they learned or would have liked to learn more about.
Participation is important to learning. Students should be encouraged to make at least one comment or ask a question every day. Teachers can prepare all students to be active participants by teaching them how to communicate with others. Making eye contact, active listening, taking turns, speaking clearly, and accepting and providing feedback are all skills that need to be explicitly taught in the classroom. After students learn the skills needed to communicate with others, they can demonstrate to the world they have the power to succeed.
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