Workplace communication skills: how to be confident in meetings and in groups (level 1-2)

What is the course about?

This course is about developing your confidence in groups, particularly at work, so you can express yourself, give opinions, listen and respond to other people, negotiate, collaborate and persuade while remaining calm and considerate.

Through fun and stimulating exercises, we will help to take the pressure off speaking in team meetings and talking to customers, clients or managers. You will work on different phrases and ways of talking which will help to ensure others listen to you, and you feel able to get your points across successfully.

What will we cover?

• speaking well in work meetings and other groups
• listening and responding effectively to different viewpoints
•challenging, negotiating, disagreeing, and persuading using appropriate language
•being polite but assertive
• summarising the arguments and opinions of other people
• developing confidence when talking with strangers .e.g. customers and with people in authority.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• speak well in work meetings and other groups
• listen and respond effectively to different viewpoints
•challenge, negotiate, disagree, and persuade using appropriate language
•be polite but assertive
• summarise the arguments and opinions of other people
• develop confidence when talking with strangers .e.g. customers and with people in authority.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is aimed at people whose English is at entry 3-level 1 who wish to gain confidence and skills in talking in groups and in meetings. It will also help those doing functional skills exams.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will learn in a supportive and welcoming environment. There will be quite a lot of role play .You will work on your own and with other students on different tasks so you are always practising, and developing important in-demand life and work skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, prioritising, negotiating, collaborating and independence. You will learn in a step-by-step manner so you can complete challenging tasks in enjoyable and relaxing ways. Your tutor will also work with you individually so you know how to improve and how to work in a way that improves your learning. You will need to do work outside the classroom and use Google Classroom to help you.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will need a pen, paper and a file to keep your work in. Your tutor will provide handouts and a code for Google classroom so you can communicate with classmates and access materials, videos etc. online.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

There are many courses you can do before, at the same time or after this course. These include:
• Develop your confidence in English: how to express yourself in speaking and writing inside and outside work (entry 3-level 1)
• Becoming an environmental citizen: how to read, research and understand data (entry 3-level 1)
• English, maths and digital skills for life (entry 2-entry3)
• English communication and maths skills - for life and work (entry 3)
• English communication skills - for life and work (level 1)
• Workplace communication skills: letters, emails, memos, notes, meetings and presentations (level 1)
• Workplace communication skills: how to write a successful CV and be confident in interviews (entry 3-level 1)

There are classes in the maths and digital skills areas which complement the above courses. These include:
• Maths skills for life and work - getting ready for functional skills (foundation 1)
• Maths for life and work (level 1)
• Discover the maths in the world around you: from nature to buildings (entry 3-level 1)
• Bitesize maths: becoming confident with numbers and calculations (level 1-2)
• Bitesize maths: becoming confident with shapes, space and measuring (level 1-2)
• Bitesize maths: becoming confident with algebra, problem-solving and equations (level 1-2)
• Becoming data literate: how to understand and interpret the data all around you (level 1-2)
• Learning to use your smartphone (Android)
• Becoming confident with online communication: Zoom (beginner)
• Becoming confident with online communication: Zoom and Teams (beginner)
• Becoming confident on the cloud: OneDrive and Google drive - a new way of sharing and managing your files (foundation)

For more information, talk with your tutor or contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423.