Communication Matters: Effective Communication Skills for Language Teachers

Communicating effectively is central to the teaching process. Successful classroom learning and teaching relies on effective communication between the teacher and the students. Despite its significance, communication competence is often overlooked in teacher education programs. Many curricula focus on theoretical knowledge or methodological skills, without systematically addressing how teachers communicate. In language education specifically, communication is not only a medium but the content of instruction. As language teachers aim to develop communicative competence in students, their own mastery of communication skills becomes even more essential. This study proposes a syllabus to develop communication competence of pre-service English language teachers and evaluates its effectiveness through mixed-methods research. For this purpose, the participants were given a list of topics to determine the modules. The findings were reflected in the suggested syllabus, and it was piloted in an ELT undergraduate program for 15 weeks. Quantitative data from pre- and post-tests and qualitative data from reflection journals reveal a significant improvement in communication skills. The results emphasize the importance of incorporating communication-focused courses in language teacher education programs.