In the news yesterday was an article about school children learning to speak properly. As usual there were plenty of postings on the Telegraph - and particularly the Daily Mail websites, criticising parents, the Government and teachers. One post actually said that 'Most teachers were illiterate' (could I see the figures to prove this statement...)
There is a need to address the problem of children's lack of positive communication skills - and also that of society as a whole. One could argue that this ought to be the parents' responsibility, but since this is such a problem, they are clearly not doing this, so there needs to be a strategy for improving these skills.
By poor speech, I DO NOT mean regional accents - or indeed certain Public School accents that are incomprehensible, but speaking where grammatically the language is WRONG, and also the use of slang and phrases like "Oh - My - God" - which personally I find offensive and sloppy. There is a way to speak and communicate with your friends and peers: another when you are at work.
To me there are a couple of crucial points about current communication styles. One is that there are many more people who are 'voices' in the media, who have poor communication skills: in particular grammar and pronunciation. Celebrities, footballers etc. This gives the appearance of 'being the norm', when in fact they are dreadful. These people are role models for a lot of children and of course they mimic and believe this is totally acceptable. Not only are their speaking styles sloppy, but they use poor English.
Also, it is important for young people - everyone infact, to be able to recognise what type of speech is appropriate for different situations. I delivered some training to a company where the lovely employees were 'over friendly' and 'familiar' with their use of speech with clients. Clients were being put off by this. When the employees realised that there is an appropriate language style for clients and a different one for friends, the communication effectiveness in the office increased.
Rather like we wear work and 'home' clothes, we should adopt 'work' and 'home' speech.
Here is the article>
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/primaryeducation/5227625/Children-to-be-taught-how-to-speak-properly.html
Read more from Executive Voice http://www.executivevoice.co.uk
There is a need to address the problem of children's lack of positive communication skills - and also that of society as a whole. One could argue that this ought to be the parents' responsibility, but since this is such a problem, they are clearly not doing this, so there needs to be a strategy for improving these skills.
By poor speech, I DO NOT mean regional accents - or indeed certain Public School accents that are incomprehensible, but speaking where grammatically the language is WRONG, and also the use of slang and phrases like "Oh - My - God" - which personally I find offensive and sloppy. There is a way to speak and communicate with your friends and peers: another when you are at work.
To me there are a couple of crucial points about current communication styles. One is that there are many more people who are 'voices' in the media, who have poor communication skills: in particular grammar and pronunciation. Celebrities, footballers etc. This gives the appearance of 'being the norm', when in fact they are dreadful. These people are role models for a lot of children and of course they mimic and believe this is totally acceptable. Not only are their speaking styles sloppy, but they use poor English.
Also, it is important for young people - everyone infact, to be able to recognise what type of speech is appropriate for different situations. I delivered some training to a company where the lovely employees were 'over friendly' and 'familiar' with their use of speech with clients. Clients were being put off by this. When the employees realised that there is an appropriate language style for clients and a different one for friends, the communication effectiveness in the office increased.
Rather like we wear work and 'home' clothes, we should adopt 'work' and 'home' speech.
Here is the article>
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/primaryeducation/5227625/Children-to-be-taught-how-to-speak-properly.html
Read more from Executive Voice http://www.executivevoice.co.uk
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