COMMUNICATION BARRIERS IN SOCIAL WORKER COMMUNICATION: WAYS TO TAKE OVER

Abstract

The article describes the essence of communication barriers and their classification. The causes of communication barriers in the professional activity of a social worker are explained; the ways of overcoming them in the process of intercultural interaction of the social worker and the client are grounded. Logical, cognitive, linguistic and communicative barriers from the position of social worker and client are analyzed. The author defines the concept of "communicative barrier", which the author explains as difficulties that complicate the process of communication between communicators in the process of exchanging opinions, feelings, impressions, due to the low level of communication skills of participants of communication, in particular: inability to use language skills (verbal, non-verbal) for communication, violation of literary rules, inability to communicate, establish and maintain a conversation with a client, control emotions, navigate in communication, avoid stereotypical perception of a partner, use active listening tactics. In order to identify the ability of students - future social workers to overcome difficulties in the process of communication, to use communication tools in communication with the client at the ascertaining stage of the study, appropriate tasks, questionnaires and techniques were selected. The experimental study was conducted within the students of the third year of the specialty 231 "Social work". As a result of the ascertaining stage of the research it was found that by the indicator “ability to overcome communication barriers, organize initiative-dialog communication”, the majority of students (44,4 %) were at low and satisfactory (36,6 %) levels. An intermediate level was evidenced in 11,6 % of students, high – 7,4 %. In general, the study revealed the insufficient level of communication skills development of students - future social workers. The results obtained during the formative phase of the research showed positive changes in the formation of the ability to overcome communication barriers, to organize initiative-dialog communication. Future social workers have made clear arguments for overcoming and preventing communication barriers. Students noted the effectiveness of the exercises, questionnaires and techniques used during the formative phase of research, aimed at overcoming communication barriers in communication, establishing interpersonal interaction.