Boys feel more confident speaking in public than girls
Joe Lepper
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Boys are more confident public speakers than girls, according to latest research by communication and literacy charities.
The survey of 6,865 eight- to 16-year-olds found that 69 per cent of boys compared with 57 per cent of girls said they felt confident speaking in front of classmates.
Boys were also more confident speaking to teachers and more likely to value communication skills as a means of getting young people’s views to be taken seriously.
The survey was published as part of the national year of communication run by The Communication Trust, which is an umbrella group of communication and literacy charities.
Jonathan Douglas, director the National Literacy Trust, said: "The survey paints a picture of young males as confident communicators who are incredibly aware of the important role communication skills play in a successful school, work and social life."
However, the survey found that boys are more likely than girls to believe that communication skills can just be "picked up".
The Communication Trust's professional director Wendy Lee described this as "concerning" as many young people, in particular boys, need support to help them communicate.
She said: "It is important to recognise that these skills do not develop by chance; adults play a fundamental role in supporting language and communication development."
Four times as many boys have speech, language and communication difficulties, she added.