How to attract the attention of the class and communicate effectively?

Public speaking and communication skills are becoming more essential in both education and everyday life. Whether in the classroom or beyond, abilities like conflict resolution, assertive communication, and public speaking are very important. In our course, participants developed these skills through a mix of theoretical learning and practical activities.

Aiming to reinforce this approach and achieve those goals, the latest course « Effective Communication and Public Speaking for teachers​» took place in Palermo, from 30/03/2025 to 05/04/2025, with participants from allacrossEurope, such asDana Vítová from Obchodníakademie, Středníodbornáškola a Jazykováškola s právemstátníjazykovézkoušky, Hradec Královéin in Czech Republic, Regīna Treija from Talsi Secondary School No.2 in Latvia, Željka Šunjić and Ana-Maria Rešetar from POU Križevci in Croatia, Ulvi Renser from Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) in Estonia and Alexis Santin from Université de Technologie de Troyes in France.
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At the start of the course, participants shared their views on the key competencies and soft skills required in today’s world, both for students and educators. They also expressed their personal fears and concerns about public speaking.
In an introductory exercise, recognizing that first speeches can be challenging and stressful, the trainer helped participants identify the most effective elements of their own presentations.
Throughout the course, participants focused on various aspects to help improve their speaking and communication skills.​

First, participants learned how to plan a speech using three simple steps. They also discovered effective tips for delivering a strong presentation, such as understanding your audience, introducing the topic and the key message or using the appropriate tone and timing. This phase also provided an opportunity to enhance their creativity and improvisation skills in public speaking.
Next, participants were introduced to assertiveness, focusing on the four types of communication: passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive, and assertive. Through group role plays, they explored these communication styles, discussing the behaviors associated with each. This exercise helped them to improve navigating similar situations in real-life contexts, such as interacting with students in schools.

Public speaking is not just about words; it also involves non-verbal communication, particularly body language, and its meanings and symbols. Both verbal and non-verbal work together to convey a credible message to any audience. The audience's perspective is also crucial in public speaking—accepting feedback is essential for improving both speaking skills and behavioral attitudes. To foster this, participants were encouraged to provide constructive feedback to their colleagues with care and empathy. This process allowed the recipient to make adjustments or validate their approach based on the feedback received.

Finally, when exploring the topic of conflict management, participants acknowledged that working with others can be challenging, and resolving disputes isn't always easy. However, by sharing their personal experiences, they realized how common these situations are and came to understand that conflict can also offer opportunities for growth and development.
In conclusion, the workshops and training sessions enabled participants to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, improve their skills, and expand their professional networks through valuable intercultural exchanges.
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Discover more about this course here