Demonstrate how to adapt communication with adults for:

a) Cultural and social differences b) The context of the communication c) Communication differences

Again, adapting communication for adults is very similar in principle to adapting it for

children. The same sorts of miscommunication problems can transpire through cultural

and social differences, contextual issues, and communication differences between

people, so if you keep yourself aware of any of these problem areas, you will be better

placed to adapt the way you communicate in order to offset the issues.

Different communication skills.

The cultural and background differences between people

Multicultural Britain has a wide variety of peoples, and the cultural differences between

them are as often finely nuanced as they are obvious. Similarly, there are many

different economic and social backgrounds to take into account, and these differences

may be accompanied by a variety of educational experiences.

Adapting the way you communicate with someone who speaks English as an additional

language may mean that you need to speak a little more clearly, or that you may need

to explain some words that you use. However, you should never assume that someone

does or does not understand you, even if they have a strong accent and do not use

English in a standard way. Check understanding cautiously, and ensure that if you are

asked to explain something that you do so in a straightforward but not simplistic way.

People can become terribly offended if they feel they are being talked down to.

Other aspects of culture include the fact that non-verbal communication tends to be

culture specific. So, for example, an American may have a different sense of personal

space than someone who is from the UK; this may lead to the American being more

tactile, while the British person may appear to be more standoffish. Without

acknowledgement of their differences, and good communication, both of these people

could potentially offend each other without realising it. A Muslim lady may not want to

be touched, even accidentally, by a male outside of her family; alternatively, she may

not follow these types of custom and may not care at all.

You should never assume that just because someone has a culture-specific name, or

just because they identify as belonging to a particular cultural group, that they follow all

the customs of that culture.

Contextual differences in communication

When you write an email to someone professional, you will probably use more formal

language than normal. When you write a comment on a child's work, you may word it in

a way that the child will find easy to understand. These are examples of contextual

differences in communication, and are demonstrations of the ways in which you may

adapt communication according to context.

Sometimes you will need to communicate verbally in a more formal manner, such as

during a meeting between some parents, the teacher, and yourself. At other times you

may simply need to communicate in an informal way, such as when you chat to parents

waiting to pick their children up.

The most important thing to remember around contextual differences in communication

is that whatever the information you need to get across, the communication must

adequately do the job so that those who need the information can understand it.

Communication differences

Just like children, adults are better or less well-equipped to communicate. Some adults

may speak a different primary language, and find it difficult or limiting to communicate

in English. Others may have sensory disabilities or communication disorders. The

latter can sometimes be difficult to recognise in adults, especially when the person has

spent a lifetime compensating for their issues in communication areas, so it becomes

doubly important not to assume things about them, and not to patronise them. Just

because someone has a communication disorder does not make them cognitively

impaired. They may not need you to simplify what has been said, just to slow down.

Always check your own understanding and ensure that you know what the issue is

before you change the way you communicate, to avoid offence.