Top Tips
A communication book is for chatting not testing. Avoid questions like, “Can you find the symbol for want?”. They reduce the learner’s genuine participation in conversation and decrease motivation. Instead, use the book yourself to comment on what is happening.
Keep going, even if the learner is not using the book themselves. They need you to be consistent in showing them how it could be used. Learning a new language and feeling motivated to use it does not happen overnight. Stick with it!
Don’t worry if the learner does not appear to be attending to the pages as you model symbols on them. Some will be making use of their peripheral vision or other strategies to follow what you are doing.
For younger learners, try getting the communication book out at bedtime alongside other story books. Comment on the pictures and symbols as you leaf through it. This is a relaxed way to familiarise you both with the contents of the book.
Ensure the learner has a way of asking for the book. That might be a symbol on a wheelchair tray, an ‘I’ve got something to say’ wrist band or even just keeping the book in an allocated place in each environment so that the learner can point to it with their eyes.
As the learner begins to use the book, you may find it easier to read their eyes if you have the book between you. As you gain confidence, you may be able to place the book slightly to one side.
Misunderstandings occur in all sorts of conversations even when symbols aren’t involved. However, it is inevitable that plenty will occur when learners are getting going with eye pointing. Don’t panic! Acknowledge that there is an issue – from Stage Two there is a problem symbol that you can point to as you do this. Try and view the misunderstanding as a learning opportunity. If you are really stuck you can always agree to come back to it later.
Despite your best efforts, attention to even the most enjoyable activities may be fleeting, particularly in the early stages. That’s quite normal. Be ready to change the activity quickly.
Keep your language positive. Communicating through symbols is harder than using speech and it is easy to become frustrated yourself – a symbol might be missing, or you might be struggling to remember what page it’s on. If that happens, try not to show your exasperation. Indeed, if you can, use it as an opportunity to demonstrate a strategy they could use in a similar situation. The book needs to seem valuable and desirable. Too much negativity can take its toll and contribute to learners switching off.
There’s no rush to move through the stages. The best learning will take place with time, repetition and plenty of opportunity for the learner to see you communicating in this new way. While they don’t need to master every vocabulary item on every page, try and wait until they’re achieving the aims at each stage before moving on.
Above all, have fun!
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