ASSERTIVE OR NONASSERTIVE; MEASURING THE COMMUNICATION STYLES OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS

Abstract

Assertive communication is the ability to express oneself and behave in a way that respects the rights and opinions of others while also stepping up for your own needs and rights. Assertiveness as one the most crucial soft skills for teachers because it help them in classroom management , build an environment of trust and respect with students, help in personal and professional growth. That is why present study aimed at exploring the communication styles of prospective teachers. The study adopted survey method to proceed. All the prospective teachers enrolled in teacher education programs at university of Sargodha were population of the study. Through random sampling 197 prospective teacher from undergraduate programs were selected (Male=29, Female=168). ZandaX Assertiveness Test (α=.857) was used to explore communication styles of prospective teachers. Based on the results, the study found that 104 respondents (53%) were nonassertive and 93 (47%) were assertive in their communication style. To address the need of more than half of the sample it is recommended to develop assertive communication skills of prospective teachers through relevant training program.