Communication Skills and Challenges of Pre-Service Teachers: A Basis for Developing a Communication Skills Enhancement Module

This study aimed to assess the communication skills of pre-service teachers and identify the challenges they faced, to develop a communication skills enhancement module. Specifically, it examined the demographic profile of the respondents; their self-assessment of oral and written communication skills; the strategies they employ to improve these skills; the significant differences in their self-assessments when grouped according to profile variables; the specific challenges they encounter in oral and written communication; and the development of a module designed to enhance communication competencies in preparation for teaching. A descriptive quantitative research design was utilized, employing survey questionnaires to collect data from 224 pre-service teachers across selected campuses of Batangas State University–The National Engineering University (BatStateU-TNEU), as well as feedback from three evaluators. Findings revealed that in oral communication, pre-service teachers assessed themselves positively in creating a conducive communication environment. In written communication, they reported commonly proofreading their work to identify and correct errors. Frequently used strategies included maintaining eye contact during presentations for oral communication and seeking feedback on written outputs for written communication. However, challenges emerged in both domains. A lack of vocabulary knowledge, difficulty in maintaining a consistent tone and style, and organizing information were identified as significant obstacles. Based on these findings, a communication skills development module was created to address the identified gaps. The module serves as a supplementary resource aimed at enhancing the oral and written communication competencies of pre-service teachers, thereby better preparing them for professional teaching roles.