Learning the office lingo

Dr Doris Dippold, Department of Languages and Translation Studies, University of Surrey

The seminar will introduce a web-based resource for developing professional communication skills developed as part of a SCEPTrE fellowship in 2009-10. Drawing directly on students’ experiences during their professional placement year, the resource aims to develop students’ reflective skills, allowing them to make judgments about the effects of their verbal and nonverbal strategies on others. Moreover, it also aims to hone students’ observational skills, enabling them to learn from experienced professionals. To this end, it includes three reflective tools that allow students to self-assess their skills, plan ahead for challenging interactions and evaluate their own or others’ interactions.

The session is of particular interest to all staff who are helping students develop capability for being an effective professional, or who preparing students for, or supporting them while they are on, work placement. It will also be of interest to people involved in helping students develop their communication skills. It will introduce the resource and the tools, but also leave room to discuss possible further developments of the resource, ways of embedding communication skills in UG curricula and issues of employer engagement.