Effective Communication and Public Speaking for teachers and education staff /Soft Skills and Emotional Intelligence for teachers and education staff

Effective communication and soft skills are essential for teachers and education staff, both in the classroom and beyond. These courses help participants develop emotional intelligence, teamwork, and public speaking skills through a mix of theory and practice.
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The new edition of the combined courses “Soft Skills and Emotional Intelligence for teachers and education staff​” and “Effective Communication and Public Speaking for teachers​ and education staff” took place in Bologna from 26/01/2025 to 01/02/2025. The participants came from all across Europe, including Callum Mayler from School Street and Thomas Court Bawn Family Resources Centre CLG in Ireland; Ieva Kokareviča, Iveta Hamchanovska, and Kaiva Veita from Siguldas Novada Bibliotēka in Latvia; Aleksandra Korytowska-Maciejewska from the Medical University of Poznań in Poland; Emma Terradellas Rodríguez from Departament d’Educació - Inspecció SGIE in Spain; Pop Adriana, Sabau Diana, Rakos-Ile Simona Maria, and Pop Mihaiela Cristina from Inspectoratul Școlar Județean Maramureș in România; Sara Sánchez from CEPA Gloria Fuertes in Spain; and Charikleia Gouveli from the Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Epirus in Greece.

Introduction to Soft Skills marked the beginning of the course, emphasizing their importance in both professional and personal life. To foster engagement, participants used a public speech activity to introduce themselves, combining self-expression with an opportunity to practice speaking in front of an audience.

The next session focused on Emotional Intelligence, highlighting the ability to recognize and manage both personal and others’ emotions. Through interactive exercises, participants explored empathy, self-control, and self-motivation, essential qualities for building meaningful connections inside and outside the classroom.

Continuing with Effective Communication and Assertiveness, participants examined different communication styles--aggressive, passive, passive-aggressive, and assertive—and discussed the importance of expressing oneself clearly and confidently while maintaining respect and professionalism.
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Developing strong Public Speaking skills was another key aspect of the course. Participants learned techniques to enhance body language, control nonverbal communication, and structure their speeches effectively. To put these skills into practice, they prepared and delivered a short speech, gaining confidence in speaking before an audience. To reinforce what they had learned, participants engaged in another public speech exercise, focusing on different speech structures.

The final session emphasized Conflict Management, addressing the challenges of working with others and handling difficult situations. By sharing personal experiences, participants realized that conflicts do not always lead to negative outcomes but can instead foster growth and development when managed effectively.
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Discover more about this course here.