Intergenerational Learning: Communication for tomorrow

If we teach them well, then surely, they can in turn - lead the way. However, do our education systems provide enough space and support for students to develop effective communication skills to help them voice the change they want to see in the world? Is education future-ready in the sense that all are prepared for the vast communicative expectations they will experience in life as they grow older and enter the world of work? The ability to communicate authentically and clearly, really could be ‘the greatest love of all’ for future generations to come.

In this paper, we will discuss how communication can develop over the stages of one’s life before delving into why communication impacts everyone who moves to the world of work, including those who lead others. We will suggest ways for you to reflect on communication within the parameters of your own life

The United Nations annually celebrates ‘International Youth Day’ on August 12th. Interestingly, the theme this year is Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages. By endeavoring to create successful and equitable intergenerational connections, partnerships, and relationships, no one will be left behind in a global society. Learning from lived experience whilst hearing ideas and solutions from the youth of today, could be a collaborative process in solving world problems and make for a brighter future ahead. When considering how to build more solid bridges between generations (whether it be in the global society, education system, or world of work), effective, varied communication will certainly be a well-used tool in the toolkit.

Communication Through Life…

Most of us come bursting into the world at birth with tiny wails, communicating that we have just been disrupted and that we have arrived. A lot more crying, alongside eye contact, smiling, frowning, leg kicking, cooing, and pointing tell us more about what a baby is experiencing and that they want to connect with us in some way.

Watching a room full of toddlers is a wonderful education of communication without sentences, as they point, laugh, move, observe, mimic, grab toys, or burst into tears. We have all seen a small child throw a tantrum - where they manage to communicate their feelings very clearly indeed!

As our language develops, we can begin to communicate to a greater extent with our parents, peers, and teachers during our early years as we advance into nursery and primary education. Often, young children will mimic the communication styles and mannerisms of the adults they spend time with. As they get older, children begin to recognise non-verbal cues from those around them, such as raised eyebrows from a parent if they decide to reach for an extra cookie after being told no more.

As learned lessons in communication increase over time, children mature into young adults and enter the world of secondary education, where they rely more heavily on their independence and knowledge of communication to navigate a time when many difficulties can be faced. Parents of teenagers would probably agree that keeping the lines of communication during this stage of their offspring’s life is paramount and not without struggles. Particularly in today’s society, where technology, online platforms, and communication avenues are expanding exponentially.