10 Effective Communication Skills For Enhanced Tutoring Sessions

Description  Challenge - Building effective communication in tutoring sessions Tutoring sessions require thoughtful, intentional communication approaches, which don’t always come naturally. This session will provide concrete techniques and strategies that tutors can utilize in their tutoring sessions with students to improve effectiveness and enhance learning. Key Takeaway For a tutoring session to be effective, the tutor must have strong communication skills. Participants will learn about ten communication techniques to enhance tutoring sessions in this webinar. Overview The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC &U) identifies effective oral and written communication as a twenty-first-century skill for student and career success. Serving as a tutor is a key opportunity for undergraduates and professionals alike to hone their skill sets in this area. Indeed, effective communication is one of the most important skill sets that a tutor needs to be effective and responsive when working with tutees. While some of the communication techniques utilized in a tutoring session may be straightforward and relatively easy to master, others require thoughtful, intentional work on the part of the tutor and clear and experiential instruction on the part of the tutor trainer. To be successful, tutors must use communication skills to build rapport with their tutee, create a challenging yet supportive learning environment, and guide the tutoring session effectively. In addition, there are key active listening and questioning approaches that tutors need to develop and perfect while also being mindful of how silence can play a significant part in tutoring interactions. Further, it is important to consider issues in cross-cultural communication when interacting effectively with tutees. Finally, tutors must employ varying levels of “attending” to understand and assess their tutees’ needs.At times, tutees may present unique challenges to the tutor. Effective communication strategies provide a vehicle for addressing a variety of these challenges. For example, a tutor may have to engage a reticent student, address an over-confident one, or use techniques to resolve a conflict and de-escalate a tense situation. Both verbal and non-verbal communication is essential in these challenging tutoring experiences.This webinar will explore ten communication techniques and approaches that can be beneficial for tutors to utilize in tutoring sessions; these concrete strategies can create a positive tutoring environment and optimize the learning experience of the tutee. Objectives Understand the importance of communication in the tutoring environment Consider communication strategies that build rapport, support learning, and de-escalate tense situations Examine roadblocks to effective communication Discover ways to communicate in a culturally aware manner Reflect on the impact of nonverbal communication in tutoring sessions Who Should Attend Tutoring center and writing center administrators Professional and peer tutors Peer mentors and supervisors of peer mentor programs. Any educator interested in learning more about effective communication in tutoring sessions