Communication Is Key

written by 20114 Oh Seo Ah

You’ve probably heard of how fast rumors spread far and wide within our school environment. Communication is an underlying factor in all relationships, achievements and well-being. It’s no exaggeration to say that our lives are built on endless communication. 

Being proficient in effective communication involves not only the ability to express oneself but also to understand and respect diverse cultures and viewpoints. Students who can communicate across cultural differences are better equipped to thrive in our increasingly diverse global society.

Effective Communication in SAWL

Students get the opportunity to interact with their classmates and teachers in an open environment by working in groups. Active communication enables teachers to understand students’ individual needs and provide them with valuable feedback to support their success.

One example of this is students participating in debate classes. Debate classes are known to bring many benefits for students since they enable them to learn to communicate confidently and effectively through constant training. Second-grade English majors had the chance to become actively involved in the process of communicating their ideas, persuading others and learning from various perspectives from debate classes.

Dormitories also help students to be connected with their peers by building close interactions. After their hectic schedule, a lot of students call it a day by sharing their daily lives with their roommates. Living in dorms allows students to meet new people and form strong bonds in their relationships with them. 

“Living in dorms lets us enhance our communication skills beyond doubt. Students who live in dorms might have experienced how having small talk with roommates gives us a small source of happiness in our lives,” said Jeong Yeo Won.

In addition to this, a lot of events are held, such as the World Culture Festival, which allows students to communicate by understanding cultures of diverse countries, Model International Organization Conference, Anyone School and International Exchange programs for students to interact with those in other countries.

“Communicating with our buddies was such a memorable activity during the international exchange program! We had so much fun getting to know each other by introducing ourselves and sharing our cultures,” said Jeon Ye Won.

Likewise, even though they belong to the same type of verbal communication, the methods can vary into small group, public and interpersonal communications.

Since having good communication skills is important not only in schools but also in every aspect of life, we should enhance our communication skills to enrich our lives.

How to Improve Communication Strategies

Acquiring effective communication strategies is essential for avoiding conflicts caused by misunderstandings and uncertainty. By mastering successful communication techniques, individuals can enhance their capacity to inspire others, engage in compelling conversations, promote information sharing and utilize efficient problem-solving methods.

A study conducted by Psychology Today revealed that a significant portion of communication relies on nonverbal cues. Specifically, 55% of communication is conveyed through body language, 38% through tone of voice, and a mere 7% through the actual words spoken.

This highlights the importance of being mindful of our nonverbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, to enhance our communication strategies. By maintaining awareness of these physical cues, we can significantly improve our overall communication effectiveness.

Active listening and practicing empathy are essential for students to become

 better speakers. By understanding and truly engaging with others’ words, students can respond effectively and communicate more meaningfully.

To communicate is to express yourself, learning how to communicate effectively will show who you are. In our current society, we are continually communicating, and communication is a valuable skill that benefits us in the long-term process, not only in schools.