It is said that teaching is the noblest profession! Well, I do agree on this statement. We teachers should know when to applydifferent kinds of communication to each and every unique students we encounter on our daily routine in our school. Studies revealed that there are dirty dozen or the twelve roadblocks to communication. Situations differ if teacher know how to communicate to student which is really hard to motivate for them to be interested in learning the lesson. Responses to each situation will communicate rejection by offering a solution to the student’s problem.First, ordering, commanding and directing them on what to do and react on what you just tell them, example of these are statements……“Youshould stop complaining and get the work done!” You’d better get on the ball if you expect to get good grade in this class! This particular statement actually imposes a warning or even threatening student. Another statement, “You know it’s your job to study when you come to school. You should leave your personal problems at home where they belong.” As a teacher, we do not just teach them we should understand and consider that they have their own problems at home, no need to demoralize them.Instead of doing so we can talk to them privately, give them advises that will uplift their personalities. We can think of offering them solutions or suggestions to their problems. If what we do is just teaching them, lecturing and giving logical arguments, it does not give them positive outlook in you. They might start hating you, skipping your class will be possible for them so that they will not hear all your negative comments toward them.
In some situations wherein a teacher can’t stop but to judge,criticize,disagree and blame them like, “You’re just plain lazy! orYou’re a big procrastinator!” a statement that will put downtheir morale. Another one, “You’re acting like a fourth grader not like someone who is almost ready to go a to higher grade level! Students hate to be labeled, name-called, or even stereotyped. Again it will build a wall for them to reach out for you because they are afraid for your next reaction. Each statement or reaction in interpreting, analyzing, and diagnosing them in an ill mannered way really affect their behavior toward studying and learning.
Some situation represents attempts by the teacher to make a student feel better by making a problem go away or denying that a real problem exists. Praising, agreeing, and giving positive evaluations like “You’re really a very competent young man. I’m sure you’ll figure how to get it done somehow.” We can also reassure, sympathize, consol, and support them by telling them that “You’re not the only one who ever felt like this. I’ve felt that way about tough assignments, too. Besides it won’t seem hard when you get into it.”
The most frequently used roadblock of all: questioning, probing, interrogating, cross- examining. “How much time did you spend on it?” “Why did you wait for so long to ask for help?” “How many hours have you put on it?”These questions often produce defensiveness because teachers intend to solve the student’s problem by coming up with the best solution, rather than help the student to solve the problem him/herself.
Lastly, withdrawing, distracting, being sarcastic, humoring, diverting……”Comeon, let’s talk about something more pleasant.” “Now isn’t the time.” “Let’s get back to our lesson.” “Seems like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” These are the messages that teachers use to avoid having to deal with student at all by trying to change the subject or divert the student.
Roadblocks to communicate to student should be omitted properly so that learners will find it easy to approach us, for we are to be their companion, to help them pursue and navigate in the right direction in their learning process.
By: Mrs. Myra S. Swin | T-I Science Teacher | Bataan National High School
