Easily improve your oral and written communication skills

Having good communication skills is very important for success in our studies, our profession, and also in society. Let's see how to improve these skills.

Welcome to the university

It is not the same to present a class work in front of our lifelong classmates, as it is to do it in front of a classroom full of hundreds of strangers at the university. It is also not the same to deliver a work to our dear Puri (who has been teaching us since we learned to read), as it is to deliver it to the highly respected and recognized professor of Theoretical Physics who teaches us now. It is clear that going to university is exciting, but it also poses a challenge to our communication skills. We are expected to be able to express ourselves clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, in various academic and social situations. It is expected that we can argue and present our ideas logically and, although it may sound a bit intimidating at first, there is no need to get overwhelmed: all our classmates are in the same situation, we are all adjusting and learning. The good news is that the university offers a magnificent environment to improve these skills every day and we have at least four years of practice until we obtain our eTitle, let's get started!

Tips to improve oral communication skills

Public speaking can be terrifying. For most human beings, even for those who do it often, standing in front of a crowd and talking about anything is, to say the least, stressful. The good news is that the nerves eventually fade away as the first few minutes go by, and with a little experience, we may end up experiencing facing an audience as a totally addictive adrenaline rush. We have all felt butterflies in our stomachs (or griffon vultures) before a presentation, but with a few tricks, we will improve our speaking skills and feel more confident each time:

1. Practice, practice, and practice: Yes, it will be a cliché, but practice makes perfect. The more we rehearse a speech, the better prepared we will be, the less chance we will have of going blank, and the less nervous we will feel. We must record ourselves in audio and listen to it while doing other things. We must record ourselves on video and see how we express ourselves. And we must do both things as many times as necessary until we get it perfect and we are happy with the result.


2. Participate in classes and debates: The university offers us multiple opportunities to express ourselves and improve our oral communication skills. Participating in debates and presenting our ideas in class will help us gain confidence and improve improvisation and argumentative skills.


3. Ask for feedback: It may be a bit embarrassing for all of us, but asking for feedback from teachers and classmates is essential. Each constructive criticism will allow us to improve and adapt our way of communicating.


4. Know the subject thoroughly: If we know what we are talking about, our confidence will be evident in our voice. Researching and fully understanding our topic is essential for good speaking skills. In addition, it prepares us for possible questions and allows us to debate with solidity.


5. Relax and breathe: Before speaking, it is good to take a moment to breathe deeply and calm down. Controlling our breathing helps us manage nerves and speak more clearly and confidently. If we see that we start to stumble and we begin to ramble or speed up the pace, it is good to stop, drink water, breathe, and continue.


6. Use body language to our advantage: Nonverbal communication counts a lot. We must make sure to maintain an open and confident posture and make eye contact. This not only improves our presentation, but also makes us feel more secure.

How to work on written communication

Venturing into the universe of academic writing may seem like a huge challenge, especially when we face university standards. We find ourselves in a context where every comma counts and every argument must be supported. But isn't this what prepares us for the future? Here, essays, dissertations, and reports become our daily bread. And we must see each document as a new opportunity to polish our written communication skills and learn to convey our ideas clearly, coherently (and even beautifully, if possible). Let's see how:

1. Pay attention to the structure: Preparing a previous outline helps us organize our ideas and build solid arguments. Make sure to have an introduction that attracts attention, a body that delves into the topic without becoming tedious, and a conclusion that leaves a mark.


2. Review, review, and review some more: There is nothing more useful than reviewing our work several times. Each revision gives us the opportunity to polish details and perfect our style. It is not acceptable to submit a text with spelling mistakes or poorly written; the reading should be smooth and follow a structure that is not convoluted. Ideally, we should have a few friends or family members who can be our "guinea pigs" and read our writing and tell us what they think, if they understood it well, etc. Let's be receptive to criticism and, most importantly, let's learn from it.


3. Take advantage of available resources: The university is full of resources to improve our writing. From workshops and tutoring to online tools. Let's not miss this great opportunity that being university students offers us.


4. Reading is key: We cannot write well if we do not read. It is impossible. Immersing ourselves in reading exposes us to different styles, enriches our vocabulary, and helps us write correctly. It is like mental gymnastics to strengthen our writing skills, but be careful, always reading the same thing would be like training only our arms (and we all know how bad that looks). We must read essays, novels, magazines, blogs, newspapers, and even advertising campaigns. That is a complete training.


5. Practice regularly: Like any skill, writing improves with practice as long as we apply what we learn. In other words, writing a lot is useless if we never correct the mistakes we make. Let's dedicate time to write regularly, explore different styles, and not be afraid to experiment. Writing is a form of communication, but it is also an art form, let's not forget that.

Relax and enjoy the process

Yes, learning to improve our communication skills is a journey with its ups and downs. There will be mistakes, corrections, and uncomfortable moments, but each step will help us grow and become much more effective communicators. We must enjoy the process as much as possible, learn from each experience, and celebrate each small achievement.