DIALOGIC TEACHING FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION SKILLS

 DIALOGIC TEACHING FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Nimmy Elizabeth George

Abstract

This article explores the need for dialogic teaching to improve oral communication skills among students. Since students spend most of their time at school, teachers can enhance their communication skills, personality traits, etc through meaningful classroom transactions. The articles discuss various methods that can be used in classroom transactions as part of dialogic teaching.

Keywords: Dialogic teaching, communication skill

Introduction

Education can be defined as a process of imparting knowledge, interpersonal skills, character formation, and life skills for the holistic development of a human being. 

Educational strategies vary from one another. Strategies like flipped classrooms, blended learning, inclusive education, collaborative learning, gaming, etc, are some of the innovations in the field of education. A classroom is not a homogenous group instead, it is heterogeneous. Teachers should respect the individual differences among students. Catering the need for individual differences is a prime objective of choosing proper classroom techniques and teaching strategies. 

Language is part and parcel of human life as it is the medium of communication. Language teaching requires a lot of effort and skill. Developing language skills amidst all the challenges like mother-tongue influences, use of second languages, insufficiency of language exposure, etc, requires expertise. Skillful use of any language is essential for both educational and 

professional success. Teachers can make sure of methods like peer interactions, debates, seminars, role plays, discussions, etc, in their classrooms to improve the language efficiency of students. The basic language skills include listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Even today, teachers face great challenges in developing oral language skills. This article expounds on the necessity of dialogic teaching methods in developing your oral language skills.

Dialogic Teaching and Communication Skills

Dialogic teaching is often regarded as a platform for better thinking and talking. It refers to an interactive teaching strategy. The dialogic teaching method aims to improve student participation in the classroom. It gives the students to listen, analyze, reflect, discuss, argue, and share their opinions about a particular subject matter. Dialogic teaching counteracts the traditional concept of teaching as the teacher is not the sole presenter in the class.

Language skills develop as you learn from your own mistakes while using it. The fear of being judged and bullied makes pupils reluctant to collaborate in interactions. Here, good communication skills, presentation style, and confidence can 

make up the oral language skills. Dialogic teaching gives prominence to the verbal responses through which a teacher can help promote oral skills. Some common tactics used in dialogic teaching are speeches, picture analysis, verbal question-answering sessions, etc. 

Inculcating language games and vocabulary enrichment activities strengthen their vocabulary. In dialogic teaching, role-plays are also an inevitable technique used to enhance student interaction. Since a role-play consists of many characters, it reduces the inhibition of students to speak. Being with their friends increases their interest in the same. Thus, we can say that dialogic teaching-learning practices can promote oral skills through collaboration and cooperation. The teacher being the facilitator can guide and motivate students to actively perform their assigned tasks.

Conclusion

Dialogic methods can be implemented in any subject, but the use of the same in a language-learning classroom has its benefits. Dialogic classroom transactions make language 

learning a collective effort and engaging apart from boring lectures. Collaborative tasks are more enriching as they develop creative, critical, and social skills among the students. Let us hope that future classrooms will be creative to make better spaces for thinking, reflecting and producing effective results.