1. Supporting young people with communication difficulties1

2. Introducing the ‘communication chain’ …
… which we think is more like a chain reaction
Each ‘domino’ has to do its bit so that all the following ones can work too – and all in a split second!

3. Communication chain
The first stage is noticing that someone is speaking to you

4. Communication chain
Next you look at the other person and listen to what they are saying ....

5. Communication chain Then you have to hear the words …
… understand what they mean
… and put them together to make sentences that make sense

6. Communication chain
Then you look at the other person’s expression and body language …

7. Communication chain
… put all that together to understand what has been said.

8. Communication chain Then you need to reply …
So, you get an idea about what to say …

9. Communication chain
... decide what’s appropriate depending on who you’re talking to
and where you are...

10. Communication chain … find the right words in your memory
… put them together to make sentences

11. Communication chain
… choose the right expression and body language

12. Communication chain
… programme your speech muscles
… and speak!

13. Communication chain
Check out the other person’s expression, and you’ve got it!
Then you have to keep the conversation going!
But many young people have difficulties with different parts of this chain reaction

14. Communication difficulties can lead to feeling:
Frustrated
Tired
Stupid
Lacking in self-worth
Withdrawn
Angry
Panicked
Confused

15. League table of communication difficulties1
Game rules
Over 60 young people with communication difficulties were asked what they found difficult when communicating
Decide which of the 10 difficulties got the most votes for being a problem. There are points for positioning difficulties correctly
MOST difficult 10
LEAST difficult

16. Working out what other people are thinking
People using big words
Cooperating with others to get a job done
Asking questions when you’re not sure
Talking to different types of people in different ways
People not giving you enough time to say something
Knowing what you want to say but the words won’t come out
People talking too fast
Explaining something to a group
People saying too many things all at once
Show this slide of communication difficulties in random order for audience to decide which ones will rank highest and lowest. 16

17. 10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning
Words in italics are quotes from young people justifying why this is a problem for them

18. 9. Cooperating with others to get a job done
People don’t take notice of your opinions
10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning

19. 8. Talking to different types of people in different ways
I talk to them all in the same way
9. Cooperating with others to get a job done
People don’t take notice of your opinions
10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning

20. 8. Talking to different types of people in different ways
7. People using big words
I can’t figure what they’re saying and when they explain again they still use big words
8. Talking to different types of people in different ways
I talk to them all in the same way
9. Cooperating with others to get a job done
People don’t take notice of your opinions
10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning

21. 6. Working out what other people are thinking
This can cause arguments
7. People using big words
I can’t figure what they’re saying and when they explain again they still use big words
8. Talking to different types of people in different ways
I talk to them all in the same way
9. Cooperating with others to get a job done
People don’t take notice of your opinions
10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning

22. 5. People not giving you enough time to say something
You can’t get the answer in a second
6. Working out what other people are thinking
This can cause arguments
7. People using big words
I can’t figure what they’re saying and when they explain again they still use big words
8. Talking to different types of people in different ways
I talk to them all in the same way
9. Cooperating with others to get a job done
People don’t take notice of your opinions
10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning

23. 4. People talking too fast
I say yes but don’t have a clue what they’ve just said
5. People not giving you enough time to say something
You can’t get the answer in a second
6. Working out what other people are thinking
This can cause arguments
7. People using big words
I can’t figure what they’re saying and when they explain again they still use big words
8. Talking to different types of people in different ways
I talk to them all in the same way
9. Cooperating with others to get a job done
People don’t take notice of your opinions
10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning

24. 3. Explaining something to a group
I don’t know what to say and no one will know what it means
4. People talking too fast
I say yes but don’t have a clue what they’ve just said
5. People not giving you enough time to say something
You can’t get the answer in a second
6. Working out what other people are thinking
This can cause arguments
7. People using big words
I can’t figure what they’re saying and when they explain again they still use big words
8. Talking to different types of people in different ways
I talk to them all in the same way
9. Cooperating with others to get a job done
People don’t take notice of your opinions
10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning

25. 2. Knowing what you want to say but the words won’t come out
It make you feel anxious because the words don’t come out and you can’t breathe
3. Explaining something to a group
I don’t know what to say and no one will know what it means
4. People talking too fast
I say yes but don’t have a clue what they’ve just said
5. People not giving you enough time to say something
You can’t get the answer in a second
6. Working out what other people are thinking
This can cause arguments
7. People using big words
I can’t figure what they’re saying and when they explain again they still use big words
8. Talking to different types of people in different ways
I talk to them all in the same way
9. Cooperating with others to get a job done
People don’t take notice of your opinions
10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning

26. 1. People saying too many things all at once
If I have too many things in my head I just forget it
2. Knowing what you want to say but the words won’t come out
It make you feel anxious because the words don’t come out and you can’t breathe
3. Explaining something to a group
I don’t know what to say and no one will know what it means
4. People talking too fast
I say yes but don’t have a clue what they’ve just said
5. People not giving you enough time to say something
You can’t get the answer in a second
6. Working out what other people are thinking
This can cause arguments
7. People using big words
I can’t figure what they’re saying and when they explain again they still use big words
8. Talking to different types of people in different ways
I talk to them all in the same way
9. Cooperating with others to get a job done
People don’t take notice of your opinions
10. Asking questions when you’re not sure
Difficult to explain what I’m questioning

27. ‘Too much talk’
This short film shows a young person’s first day in a commercial kitchen.
After the film we’ll ask you to:
point out what the chef does well
suggest what the chef could do better to help the young person

28. Quiz: Q1
How many new words do children and young people learn during their school years?
One per day
Three per day
Seven per day
Ten per day

29. Quiz: Q1 answer
How many new words do children and young people learn during their school years?
One per day
Three per day
Seven per day
Ten per day
At the age of 4 you probably knew 5,600 words
At the age of 10 you probably knew 34,300 words
Adults know between 50 – 100,000 words
English language has over 1,000,000 words
(Bloom 2000; Clark 1993) (Beck, McKeown, and Kucan, 2002).

30. Quiz: Q2
What percentage of parents thinks current education DOESN’T prepare young people for work?
86%
66%
46%
26%

31. Quiz: Q2 answer
What percentage of parents thinks current education DOESN’T prepare young people for work?
86%
66%
46%
26%
Source: City and Guilds, ‘UK Education System Not Fit for Purpose, Parents Say’ (2014).

32. Quiz: Q3
Nearly all UK employers believe soft skills are important to business success, and over half say skills like communication and teamwork are more important than academic results.
But what percentage of employees has never included soft skills on their CV?
94%
74%
54%
34%

33. Quiz: Q3 answer
Nearly all UK employers believe soft skills are important to business success, and over half say skills like communication and teamwork are more important than academic results.
But what percentage of employees has never included soft skills on their CV?
94%
74%
54%
34%
Source: Development Economics Ltd, January 2015 and YouGov Plc, September 2014.

34. Quiz: Q4
What percentage of young people officially has Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)?
10% 8% 6% 2%

35. Quiz: Q4 answer
What percentage of young people officially has Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)?
10% 8% 6% 2%
(Law et al (2000) Provision for children’s speech and language needs in England and Wales: DfES research report 239)

36. Thank you for taking part
You need to practise your communication skills for success in school, work and relationships.
Thank you for taking part