It was as if something was missing in the classrooms, the teachers and leadership at Vestbyens Friskole in Holstebro experienced.
Because even though phones and screens were turned off and put away, conversation didn't come naturally among the students.
The students seemed almost at a loss.
- We could sense a need to focus on daring to talk to each other and look each other in the eyes. That is, "to converse," says head of department Sabine Hollænder Jakobsen.
That is why "the good conversation" is on the timetable for 7th grade – 20 minutes every day for four weeks.
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The ability to listen makes for a good talk
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Through various exercises, the students learn to ask open and probing questions. And not least to listen in order to catch the answer, explains Danish teacher Mia Søndergaard Lorentzen:
- I can sense that in them now. Especially when you look at some of the relationships where I know they don't talk much in their free time. Now there's more flow in the conversation, she explains.
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A good conversation is:
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being able to actually ask good questions,
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being able to listen to what is answered
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being able to ask probing questions.
Source: Mia Søndergaard Lorentzen, teacher, Vestbyens Friskole
"Conversation" should be understood broadly. It ranges from small talk and a pleasant chat with the person next to you about weekend experiences to polite talk with Aunt Oda at the family gathering or the deep talk with a close friend.
The art of being able to hold a conversation rubs off on the relationships and the sense of togetherness in the class.
- I sense that their togetherness is better because they know each other better by now. Because they have been good at asking each other questions and keeping the conversation going.
One of the exercises is to converse in a large group and talk their way to 10 things that everyone in the group has in common. (Photo: © DR News)
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Conversation is central to learning and well-being
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The good conversation is absolutely central to the Danish Folkeskole's purpose clause about community and democratic upbringing, believes school researcher Andreas Rasch-Christensen from VIA University College.
But it is under pressure – among other things due to high screen use, he points out.
- Students get their information from many places – often digitally. So sitting across from each other at school – talking together, maintaining concentration and immersion in the conversation – that can certainly be challenged. We can also see that in various types of studies, he says.
Bringing students' voices into play is important both academically and socially, he assesses. But that does not mean all schools should do it the same way as Vestbyens Friskole.
- I think it's good that some schools focus on the good conversation and give room for it. But conversation should also be a quite naturally integrated element in teaching.
The good conversation is under pressure, among other things due to screen use, but also because of a lack of opportunity for immersion, believes school researcher Andreas Rasch. (Photo: © DR News)
At the School Leaders' Association, they recognize the problem of students' declining conversation skills. However, chairperson Dorte Andreas does not believe the course from Holstebro should be rolled out to all schools in the country:
- We can see that much of young people's communication today takes place on the phone. But we have a great deal on our plate as a school, and therefore I think it should be up to each individual school to assess whether this is a particular challenge for them.
There is no research that can unequivocally conclude that phones and screens are the reason young people today are worse at talking to each other.
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