1. Real Life Rehearsals® — How to teach any social communication skill you like
Teachers have many responsibilities and one is helping students handle difficult social situations such as how to:
- Say 'no' to sexual harassment;
- Speak up and ask a question or voice a contrary opinion — diplomatically, assertively and appropriately;
- Resist the pressure to drink at all or refuse to drink more than a planned limit — and still look 'cool';
- Refuse the offer of a lift with a drunk driver — or anyone they don't want to go with;
- Handle a grueling job interview;
- Cope with with bullies; and
- Avoid being involved in a sexual situation at all, how to demand safe sex and how to leave safely.
Helping students handle these situations involves 2 major steps. The first involves motivating students through the provision of information and the development of appropriate beliefs, values and attitudes.
The second is more complicated. Itt involves helping students put 'theory into action'. A common approach is the use of traditional role-plays. These have their place but teachers know their shortcomings and they deserve something better. The answer is Real Life Rehearsals®. Teachers can use Real Life Rehearsals to help students learn whatever social communication skill is needed.
Mark provides presentations, workshops and demonstrations (yes, right in your classroom, on a school camp or on a retreat) on how to use Real Life Rehearsals. Mark is an experienced teacher. He has been using traditional role-plays, behaviour rehearsals and the advanced technique Real Life Rehearsals® for over 30 years with: teenagers; teachers; parents; nurses; youth workers; police; and front-line staff of organisations such as Housing NSW. Contact Mark to find out more
New Resource: "Party Without Pain. The use of Real Life Rehearsals® to help teenagers control their drinking."
Party Without Pain is a straightforward, pragmatic and easy to read booklet. It's been kept to about 13,000 words because Mark knows teachers are busy. It contains: 
a rationale for why a new approach is needed; the reality of direct and indirect social pressure; why teenagers need both a set of realistic and personalised strategies and the social skills to deliver them in the real world; why traditional types of role-plays 'just don't cut it'; and the details of each of the 10 steps of Real Life Rehearsals as applied the situation of 'helping teenagers use diplomacy, assertiveness and planning to keep their drinking under control and resist the pressure to exceed their limit'.
Order form to purchase or order Party Without Pain. To learn more, send Mark an e-mail.
2. How to be a great communicator. How to be a R.E.A.L. communicator
People like people who are good communicators — and what better than being liked? Being a great communicator means increased confidence, increased likelihood of getting what you want, increased chances of job promotions, and the list goes on.
The art of building (R) rapport and displaying empathy — with students, other teachers, administrative staff, canteen staff and parents — can move you from simply being listened to, to really being understood and liked. Rapport is more important than you think and there's more to it than you think. Have have you ever noticed that too many people 'tell' rather than 'explain'? The art of explaining (E) requires flair so what are the secrets? And what about Asking (A) and questioning? And Listening (L) — listening actively and listening to those all-important verbal, vocal and visual cues.
Mark delivers both in-house and public workshops. To find out more, contact Mark.