The aim of this practice education module is to provide learning opportunities that permit the student to gain insight into the experiences of individuals living with speech, language and communication needs. This early experience in interacting with adults who experience barriers to communication allows the students to develop an empathetic understanding of what it is like to live with a communication disability, and to learn methods to support conversation. This is the first practice education module in the student learning journey to gaining a professional qualification as a speech and language therapist.

Content includes the rationale and evidence-base in relation to communication partner training. Content also includes methods and techniques for supporting communication. Students will learn about reflective models and frameworks in relation to speech and language therapy practice and will have the opportunity to apply these models in relation to their conversation partner sessions.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Explain the ways in which conversation breakdowns can occur when engaging in conversations with individuals with communication disabilities. Develop responsive communicative strategies to support and maintain conversations Reflect on own role in the process of supporting conversations with individuals with communication disabilities.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Respect and respond to the communicative efforts of individuals with communication disabilities. Empathise with the challenges that people with communication disabilities experience in daily life.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: n/a

This module is a practical placement. Students attend tutorials to develop skills and knowledge in relation to supporting conversations during the initial weeks (knowledgeable). Later in the semester, students are introduced to their communication partner who they will meet with weekly thereafter. Students are supported to take an active role in their own learning throughout the module with facilitated reflective tutorials to consider their response to the experience (proactive). Students are supported to develop and apply strategies to support communication that are responsive the needs of their conversation partner (collaborative). Students have the opportunity to work creatively to develop resources to support conversation with their partner (creative). Students engage in self-directed preparations for their supported conversations each week (responsible). Students are supported to reflect on how the experience of supporting conversations with individuals with communication disabilities will prepare them for clinical placements and their future career in speech and language therapy.