Communication skills in adult education

We have offered City & Guilds courses in Communication Skills(Levels I and II) and Numeracy (Level I) since 1980 in Birmingham. It may be of interest to note the reactions and experiences of students and tutors who have followed these courses and to highlight some of the advantages and disadvantages we have found in undertaking this type of work. Many long‐term students see a widening of horizons and an increasing awareness of potential as their skills develop; they want to test their skills in a more formal way. The courses have great advantages in that they offer a flexible structure, allowing individual development. They encourage initiative, with project work and ‘real‐life’ teaching materials and situations being central to the course. Students can gain tremendous satisfaction from tackling an exam course, with a definite sense of purpose and commitment to their learning.