New school lesson for social media teens... how to TALK

TEENAGERS today usually have their heads stuck in their iPads or computers.

It seems they have more or less lost the old-fashioned art of actually talking to each other, face-to-face.

Now, however, experts are being drafted in to teach youngsters the ‘lost’ art of conversation, in an attempt to prepare them for work.

Pupils at Kinross High School have taken part in courses on ‘faceto-face communication skills’.

Gary Robinson – whose firm GR Communications is more used to providing presentation and personal skills to adults for business purposes – designed the Made in Scotland course.

He said: ‘It is about the art of traditional communication.

‘We know young people are fan- tastic with social media, working on keyboards and sending texts, but we do worry slightly there is a gap in traditional communication like talking, chatting and showing a passion for things in life.

‘I come from a generation used to talking and expressing ourselves. We just want to ensure that is still the case. We realise new media is here to stay, but we don’t want young people to lose those core skills.’

As part of the trial, 150 fourthyear pupils from Kinross High took part in a panel discussion with leading figures from Scottish business and sport.

Speakers included the British speed-skating champion Scott Anderson, radio presenter Garry Spence of Capital FM, the boss of a hairdressing chain and a company chief executive officer.

The teenagers were encouraged to open up and talk more, as well as to take part in workshops where they were given tips on how to present themselves in interviews.

The trial was sponsored by waste disposal firm the Binn Group.

Mr Robinson now hopes to deliver the programme at schools across the country.

He is trying to get the Scottish Government and other industry sponsors involved.

Sarah Brown, headteacher at Kinross High School, said she was proud to be able to launch the programme and that there had been a noticeable change in the way pupils interact with each other.

She added: ‘The reality is that there are so many opportunities where these interpersonal skills will prove invaluable.

‘We are very fortunate. By the time pupils are through their last year of high school they will have gained a lot of confidence.’