Communication skills

Habari Mwanafunzi! Mastering the Art of Connection

Welcome to our lesson on Communication Skills! Think about the last time you tried to explain a funny story to your friend, but they just didn't get the joke. Or when a matatu conductor shouted a price, and you heard something completely different. Frustrating, right? Communication is more than just talking; it's the superpower that helps us connect, persuade, learn, and build relationships. In the world of social sciences, it's the very foundation of how societies work. So, let's sharpen this superpower together!

What Exactly is Communication? The Full Circle

At its core, communication is the process of sending and receiving information between two or more people. It's not a one-way street like shouting into the wind; it's a dynamic, two-way process. We can visualize this as the Communication Cycle.

    +-----------------+        +-----------------+
    |     SENDER      |------->|     MESSAGE     |------->
    | (e.g., You)     |        | (The idea/info) |
    +-----------------+        +-----------------+
            ^                           |
            |                       (Channel: Voice, Text, etc.)
            |                           |
            |                           v
    +-----------------+        +-----------------+
    |    FEEDBACK     |<-------|    RECEIVER     |
    | (The response)  |        | (e.g., Your Friend) |
    +-----------------+        +-----------------+

            | | | | | NOISE (Barriers) | | | | |

• Sender: The person who starts the conversation.
• Message: The information, idea, or feeling being shared.
• Channel: The method used to send the message (e.g., speaking, writing on WhatsApp, body language).
• Receiver: The person who gets the message.
• Feedback: The receiver's response, which tells the sender if the message was understood. A nod, a question, or a laugh are all forms of feedback.
• Noise: Anything that interferes with the message! This could be loud traffic on Waiyaki Way, a poor network connection in the village, or even your own biases and assumptions.

Image Suggestion: A vibrant, sunlit scene at a busy Toi Market in Nairobi. A female vendor is smiling and gesturing with her hands while explaining the quality of her vegetables to a young student customer. The student is listening intently, nodding, and holding a kiondo (Kenyan basket). The background is filled with the colours and energy of the market, subtly hinting at the 'noise' of a real-world communication environment.

The Three Pillars of Communication

We communicate in more ways than we realize. Let's break it down into three main types.

1. Verbal Communication (What you SAY)

This is the use of spoken words. It’s the debate in your history class, bargaining for a good price in the market, or catching up with your family over a cup of chai. But it's not just the words; it's the tone, speed, and volume of your voice. Saying "Niko Sawa" can mean "I am fine" or "Leave me alone," depending entirely on your tone!

2. Non-Verbal Communication (What you SHOW)

This is the powerful, silent language of your body. It includes:

• Facial Expressions: A smile, a frown, a raised eyebrow.
• Gestures: Waving hello, a thumbs-up, or the specific hand signals matatu touts use to show their route.
• Posture: Standing tall can show confidence, while slouching might show boredom.
• Eye Contact: In some Kenyan cultures, direct eye contact with an elder can be seen as disrespectful, while in a business meeting, it shows honesty. Context is key!

A famous study by Albert Mehrabian suggested that the impact of a message is based on a simple formula. While it applies best to communicating feelings and attitudes, it shows how important non-verbal cues are!

    Total Impact of a Message = 7% Words + 38% Tone of Voice + 55% Body Language

This shows that over 90% of how your message is received can come from non-verbal cues! Amazing, isn't it?

3. Written Communication (What you WRITE)

From sending a formal application for a university scholarship to a quick "Uko wapi?" text in Sheng', written communication is everywhere. In today's digital world, this includes emails, WhatsApp messages, and social media posts. The challenge here is the absence of tone and body language, which is why emojis were invented – to add feeling back into our text!

Real-World Scenario: Imagine your family chama (investment group) has a WhatsApp group. The treasurer posts, "Everyone must pay their contribution by Friday." Some members might read this as a harsh command because there are no non-verbal cues. If the treasurer had written, "Hi team! Just a friendly reminder to please send in our contributions by Friday so we can meet our goal 😊. Thank you!", the message feels completely different, even though the core instruction is the same.

Watch Out! Common Communication Roadblocks

Sometimes, our messages get lost or misunderstood. These are the 'potholes' on the communication highway.

• Language Barriers: Using complex jargon or a foreign language that the receiver doesn't fully understand. Think of a doctor explaining a diagnosis using only medical terms to a patient from the village.
• Physical Barriers: Loud music from a neighbour's house, a bad phone network, or sitting too far apart in a large hall.
• Emotional Barriers: If you are very angry, sad, or anxious, it's hard to communicate clearly. Your emotions become the 'noise'.
• Cultural Barriers: What is polite in one culture might be rude in another. The meaning of a gesture can change completely across different communities in Kenya.

Your Toolkit for Becoming a Communication Champion

The good news is that communication is a skill you can learn and master. Here are the essential tools for your kit.

1. Active Listening

This is not just waiting for your turn to talk. It's about truly hearing and understanding the other person. Try this: next time a friend is talking, put your phone away, look at them, and when they finish, say something like, "So, if I understand you correctly, you're feeling..." This shows you were truly listening.

    HEARING vs. ACTIVE LISTENING

    Hearing:
      - Passive process
      - Sound waves hitting your eardrums
      - Often distracted

    Active Listening:
      - Active process
      - Paying full attention
      - Understanding the message
      - Responding thoughtfully
      - Remembering what was said

2. Clarity and Conciseness

Avoid "beating around the bush" (kupiga-piga gumzo). Be clear and to the point, especially in formal or professional situations. State your main point first, then explain if necessary. This respects the other person's time.

3. Empathy

This is the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand their feelings and perspective. Before you react, ask yourself: "Why might they be saying this? What is their experience?" Empathy builds bridges and resolves conflicts.

Image Suggestion: An indoor, well-lit scene depicting a university mentorship session. A slightly older student (mentor) is listening with a warm, empathetic expression. The younger student (mentee) is speaking, looking relieved and understood. The body language should be open and encouraging. The setting can be a quiet corner of a university library or common room.

Go Forth and Communicate!

Mwanafunzi, communication is a journey, not a destination. Every conversation is a chance to practice. Whether you are discussing a group project, talking to your parents, or making a new friend, you are using these skills.

Remember our Kenyan proverb: "Kidogo kidogo hujaza kibaba" (Little by little fills the measure). Small, consistent efforts in active listening, being clear, and showing empathy will turn you into a powerful and effective communicator. Now, go out there and build some connections!