Holstebro school adds conversation lessons to the timetable

A school in Holstebro has introduced daily lessons in conversation after staff found pupils struggled to talk to one another even when their phones and screens were put away, DR reports.

For four weeks, Year 7 pupils at Vestbyens Friskole spend 20 minutes a day practising how to have a good conversation. Exercises include asking open and follow-up questions, and listening carefully to answers.

Danish teacher Mia Søndergaard Lorentzen said conversations among pupils had become more fluent, including between classmates who rarely spoke outside school. She said the exercises had also helped pupils get to know one another and strengthened their sense of community.

School researcher Andreas Rasch-Christensen of VIA University College said conversation was important for learning, social wellbeing and democratic education. But he said pupils’ ability to concentrate and engage in face-to-face conversations could be challenged by heavy screen use and limited opportunities for deeper discussion. He added that conversation should be a natural part of teaching, not necessarily a separate course at every school.

Dorte Andreas, chair of the School Leaders’ Association, said young people do much of their communicating by phone, but schools should decide for themselves whether pupils’ conversation skills are a particular concern. There is no conclusive research showing that phones and screens are the reason young people are less able to talk to one another.