Communication at Neptune School

Why does communication need to be taught?

We live in a time of near-constant communication.  We’re usually just a few clicks away from communicating with nearly anyone.  Beyond these recent advances in technology, humans are communicative by nature. Children usually begin speaking at around a year old and continue to grow their vocabulary and repertoire of communication skills (verbal, non-verbal, written, etc.) as they grow into adults. So why do we need to focus on teaching communication when it seems to come so naturally?

The communication most of us practice in our day-to-day lives is neither clear nor precise. That’s okay, it doesn’t have to be! Our daily communication relies heavily on a shared understanding and familiar contexts. Essentially, we usually provide each other with a few keywords and familiar phrases, and that’s all we need to convey our message.

If your partner calls or texts, asking you to “pick up some cereal on your way home”,  you likely have a clear picture of exactly what they mean (assuming you are familiar with their preferred cereal brand) and how to do it. This is effective communication. Your partner did not need to mention all the steps involved in this cereal errand. With just a few words and your shared understanding of how shopping works, they were able to communicate briefly but effectively.

This is the kind of communication we do most of the time, and it is incredibly efficient and valuable. However, this shorthand communication method relies on our shared understanding of the context and processes we are discussing.

But what about situations in which you have no shared understanding or familiar context? Imagine for a moment you have amnesia: you don’t know what cereal is and have no memory of being in a store before. That request to “Pick up some cereal on your way home” would feel much more daunting.  You would need clear and precise instructions of what this cereal errand requires.

For example,
-Go to a shop that sells cereal
-Park your car (if you drove)
-Enter the store
-Locate the cereal
-Choose the correct brand
-Locate the cashier station
-Stand in line
-Give cereal to the store clerk
-Pay
-Pick up cereal again
-Exit store with cereal
-Travel home

This is what it feels like when we are communicating about a topic in which we lack shared understanding or familiar context.  In these situations, we need to communicate clearly and precisely, providing details about each step. We do this when we are onboarding someone to a brand new position or teaching a new math or science topic. This highly intentional language is also crucial for those who are working with innovative technologies and doing work that hasn’t been done before.

We cannot use shorthand when we step outside of our familiar topics.  We can’t assume that another person is going to envision a new product or task in precisely the way we want them to. We must use exact and careful language to explain it clearly. This sort of communication is incredibly important, but thanks to our efficient everyday sort of communication, it is something that even adults may lack experience with and must learn to do well. It takes practice.

Kids can learn to communicate clearly and precisely

Kids are frequently exposed to clear and precise communication. It’s how they learn to tie their shoes, form letters, learn classroom routines and even pick up new skills like changing a bicycle tire. However, they are almost always on the receiving end of this communication. They listen and learn. We seldom provide kids with the opportunities to practice communicating with precision.

However, kids can learn this important skill, even at a young age. By practicing using detailed and exact language, kids can become strong communicators, even in unfamiliar situations. This can give them confidence to tutor their peers in new skills, share their own creative ideas and pursue communication-heavy extracurriculars like speech and debate class.  They will also be better prepared to work on teams and step into a leadership role later in life if they have learned to communicate exactly what they mean and not leave their team guessing.

How does Neptune teach kids communication?

At Neptune, students practice precise and clear communication while having fun with classmates from around the world.

Our custom-built game puts our students in an unfamiliar situation where verbal shorthand simply won’t do.

Each week, Neptune students explore an alien planet, solve mazes, and navigate around hazards, with the help of teammates who must be clear and exact with their language or risk failing their mission.

We see our students’ communication skills improve month by month without textbooks, homework, or forced practice.  Better yet, our students notice their communication skills improving, leading to more confidence.