Ellie and Ryan, pupils at Canterbury High School, talk about their experiences of Words for Work
Ellie says:
"We’ve been working with the volunteers to like make presentations and work on our presentation skills and we’ve been doing it for a couple of months. I thought it could be quite fun, so we could learn our presentation skills so when we move on to going to work and things like that we’d be better at presenting. The best bit so far is the bit we’re doing at the minute because we’re making a film in our group showing different types of communication and it’s been quite fun. So far [in school] I haven’t really been taught different communication skills and it’s been like fun as well – a fun way to teach us. I’ve learnt how to speak clearly and to present without looking nervous…looking at your audience and things like that. I think I am more confident now because I use more eye contact when I’m presenting and I don’t look down and I speak more clearly as well. I think I will [be able to use Words for Work in the future] cos in the workplace you have to present ideas and I’m thinking about being a teacher as well and you have to present your ideas, communicate well with all different types of people so everyone understands. I think it’s been quite good working with the volunteers because we get to see how they use communication in the workplace and then they can show us ideas of how to communicate better as well.
I think communication should be taught in all schools because some people find it hard to communicate to people and they don’t understand how to do it so it would be helping lots of people. Listening is important because you have to listen and you have to understand what to do. Speaking clearly is important so you can get your ideas across and people know what you’re talking about."
Ryan says:
"We’ve been working with the volunteers to make a product. It’s working on all your presentation and communication skills like listening and speaking and that. I thought that I’d learn new skills and I thought it would be fun as well and it would teach me a lot of new things to use in later life. [The best bit so far has been] designing the product because I like making things. Words for Work’s taught me a lot of new things for later life and working with the volunteers outside of school has helped me understand a little bit more about their perspective on life and things as well. I’ve learnt new communication skills and how to speak, listen and extra things on top. Working with computers, videos, making more products and using my imagination.
I feel more confident in communicating now because it’s taught me a lot in communication so I feel more confident in speaking to people. [I’ll be able to use what I’ve learnt in the future] because I either want to be in the police force or I want to be a businessman and I need to learn these sort of skills to learn how to communicate with the target market and that sort of stuff. It’s been fun to see the volunteers’ ideas and to meet new people and to see what their view was. [I think communication should be taught in all schools] because it teaches kids how to talk to teachers nicely and talk to friends. Speaking and listening is important because you need to be able to communicate to make new friends and speak to your boss and that when you’re in a business or in the workplace."
