Communication, Teamwork & Presentations

Good communication skills are really important for study, work and life. During your time at NUI Galway, you will need to communicate with lots of people about lots of different things. You will be expected to work with other students in teams, and to create and deliver presentations. You will need to contact lecturers and tutors from time-to-time.  You may be involved in work-based learning, volunteering, or with student societies and clubs.

Good communication is always a two-way process, involving at least one sender, and at least one receiver, of a message. For communication to take place, the message needs to be both received and understood.

When people talk about ‘communication skills’, they are usually referring to a person’s level of competence in one or more of the following three main categories of human communication:

Oral communication: Face-to-face meetings and negotiations, telephone or videoconferencing calls (including voicemails), podcasting or broadcasting, interviews, presentations; the art of listening as well as speaking

Written communication: Essays, journals, reports, e-mails, letters, notes and minutes, texts and other instant messaging, social media, presentation slides; the art of reading as well as writing.

Non-verbal communication: Body language (facial expressions, eye contact, posture, gestures), tone and pitch of voice, and appearance.

Interview skillsA compilation of interview guidelines based on the combined experiences of the staff at the Career Development Centre in NUI Galway and the Cooperative Education and Careers Division at UL, together with employer and student experience at interview



Supported by the NUI Galway Student Project Fund

Downloads

  • Guide to emailing NUI Galway staff

    Guide to emailing NUI Galway staff PDF (131 KB)

  • Guide to communicating with your peers on social media

    Guide to communicating with your peers on social media PDF (121KB)

  • How to explain absence, illness, or other difficulties to a staff member

    How to explain absence, illness, or other difficulties to a staff member Word (341)

  • How to explain that you are experiencing academic difficulties

    How to explain that you are experiencing academic difficulties Word (399 KB)

  • How to express thanks and appreciation

    How to express thanks and appreciation Word (399 KB)

  • How to request a meeting with a staff member

    How to request a meeting with a staff member Word (399 KB)

  • How to request more time for an assignment

    How to request more time for an assignment Word (342 KB)

  • Top tips - non-verbal communication skills

    Top tips - non-verbal communication skills PDF (116 KB)

  • Top tips - oral communication skills

    Top tips - oral communication skills PDF (125 KB)

  • Top tips - written communication skills

    Top tips - written communication skills PDF (125 KB)

  • Top tips for team-working

    Top tips for team-working PDF (122 KB)

  • What to do when a team isn't working

    What to do when a team isn't working PDF (117 KB)

  • Checklist for creating a presentation slideshow

    Checklist for creating a presentation slideshow PDF (133 KB)

  • Checklist for delivering a presentation

    Checklist for delivering a presentation PDF (121 KB)

  • Checklist for planning a presentation

    Checklist for planning a presentation PDF (120 KB)