by Dr. Gladys I. Cruz
District Superintendent, Questar III BOCES
When we talk about preparing students for the future, the discussion often centers on technology or innovation. But one of the most important abilities is one of the oldest: knowing how to listen, respond and communicate face to face.
Recent research published in Perspectives on Psychological Science points to a trend worth noting for educators. Researchers analyzed estimates of daily spoken words from more than 2,000 people aged 10 to 94 from 2005 to 2019. They found that people spoke an average of 338 fewer words per day each year – a decline of about 28 percent over the study period. The decline was greater among participants younger than 25.
The researchers were careful not to attribute the change to any single cause. The study period coincided with the growth of texting, social media, and digital communication, along with broader changes in how we live, work, and interact. The study also ended in 2019, before the pandemic disrupted schools, workplaces and social interaction, so whether those disruptions accelerated the trend remains a question for further research.
Whatever the cause, the finding is worth our attention. Conversation is about more than exchanging information. It helps us build relationships and create a sense of belonging, particularly at a time when researchers and public health officials are paying greater attention to loneliness and social isolation. Everyday interactions – asking someone how they are doing, checking in with others, or saying hello – may seem small, but they help us build and maintain relationships.
Technology has made our lives easier in some respects. We can order food without speaking to anyone, text instead of calling and conduct much of our business online. Those conveniences may also mean fewer opportunities to interact face to face.
For schools, this matters because communication is an important part of how students learn. Students develop communication skills through classroom discussions, projects, presentations, and extracurricular activities. Those experiences provide something that cannot always be replicated by digital communication. A live conversation requires us to listen, consider what someone else is saying and decide how to respond. Sometimes it requires us to clarify our thinking or reconsider a point of view. Through those interactions, students learn when to speak and when to listen, how to explain their ideas, ask questions and disagree respectfully.
These are sometimes described as “soft skills,” but there is nothing secondary about them. I like to refer to them as essential skills. Employers value the ability to communicate, collaborate and solve problems. Civic life also depends on our ability to exchange ideas and listen to perspectives different from our own.
New York State is recognizing the importance of these skills. As part of NY Inspires, the state’s Portrait of a Graduate identifies being an effective communicator as one of the attributes students should develop before graduation.
That is why schools and families need to continue creating opportunities for young people to practice these skills, particularly as digital communication becomes more common. In classrooms, teachers can use strategies such as the Socratic method of asking open-ended questions; student-led, structured discussion and debate; think-pair-share; collaborative problem-solving; and presentations to help students learn how to listen carefully, explain their thinking, ask questions and respond respectfully to different perspectives. Adults can model those habits by putting a device aside during a conversation, calling rather than texting or making time to check in with someone.
Researchers note that adding more conversation to our day does not require a major lifestyle change. A few hundred additional spoken words might mean one more conversation in our daily lives or, at school, a lesson designed with more opportunities for engagement.
As technology continues to reshape how we communicate, schools should embrace the opportunities it provides. But we should be intentional about making space for students to engage with one another. Those conversations help young people learn, build confidence and develop skills they will use throughout their lives. Just as important, they help strengthen the relationships and sense of connection that schools, workplaces, families and communities need to thrive.