Holland College has a reputation as a leader in hands-on, skills-based training. 

This year the college welcomed more than 2,400 full-time and 4,150 part-time students in 13 locations across the Island. These students came from a variety of work experiences and educational backgrounds.

Reginald Dane Berringer is an instructor at Holland College in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. He teaches Psychology and Sociology for Law Enforcement in the Police Science, Corrections, Law and Security Program at Holland College.

Reginald highlights Essential Skills in the classroom because the Essential Skills are required for students to function on the job as public servants in the occupations of police, security and corrections. He teaches Essential Skills in the Units on Communication; Brain Storming and Problem Solving; and Memory and Observation.

Reginald's exercise, "Principles of Attending," helps learners to develop the Essential Skills of Oral Communication, and related skills of active listening.

PRINCIPLES OF ATTENDING

Instructions: (one student is in an explaining role, and  one is in the attending skills role)

In pairs, take turns explaining a point of view to a partner who practices their attending skills. Decide who will be explaining first. The first person explains their point of view on an issue of their choice. If this is an opinion that your partner agrees strongly with, they must tell you, at which point you should pick another issue to explain (preferably one that is opposite). Once you have an issue to explain, take a few minutes to decide how you will explain this point of view for about 5 – 10 minutes of interaction. You may end up explaining a position you do not agree with, in this case you are practicing empathy as well as communication. Once you start explaining your position your partner must practice their attending skills. Let them speak when they need to.

The student in the attending skills role must do the following:

Stop, look and listen: Put other stuff out of your head and pay 100% attention to the listener.

Use Minimal Encouragers: Nodding, hand gestures, yes, umm humm ect……

Deep Listening: Look for emotional cues or body language that will give you a better understanding of the persons position.

Confirmation: Verify their experience or opinion by a body position that shows you are listening and with words or phrases that show you are listening. Example: “So this is very important to you” Make them feel that they are being heard.

Nonjudgmental: Suspend what you think so you can listen better. Don’t confront them or offer an opposing view.

Empathy: show that you understand how the person feels about the subject BUT do not use the words “ I know how you feel”. Imagine what it is like to be in their shoes.

Paraphrase: Use paraphrases to show the person that you understand both the content and meaning of what they are saying, and how they feel. The idea is to be able to show empathy with some point of view that you do not agree with.

Minimal Inquiry: At the end of the conversation put in a minimal inquiry phrase to get more information. Examples are ; “So how will this effect you in the future?” , “So where does that opinion leave you?”, “Have you thought about other options?”

After you are done Switch roles and repeat the exercise.