Very simply, they must practice. Communication Skills Must Be Practiced. As with many other student skills that are developed, speaking skills must be taught and practiced, not one or the other, but both. This training cannot be accomplished in one semester of speech class as a senior in high school. The process must be continual throughout the grades and across the curriculum.
Many students experience great communication anxiety.
This anxiety is often not realized because it cannot be seen. However, students who are encouraged to participate orally in classroom activities, discussions, group projects, etc., learn more, have reduced communication apprehension, and enjoy the learning process. The mindset of many teachers and many students is that being quiet equals being good. Although classroom control is important, stifling all verbal interactions may be causing much more damage than good. By purposely training students to interact verbally as well as nonverbally in the classroom, the teacher can teach students communication skills in an orderly and controlled manner.