2. Casual vs Formal Communication
This activity aims to explore the difference between casual and formal communication.
Discuss
There are many ways that you can communicate with those around you. You can make phone calls, send text messages, write letters, send emails and have face to face conversations. No matter what mode of communication you use, you need to shift your style of communication based on the audience you are addressing, the situation you are in, or even the topic you are discussing.
To practice, let’s take turns sharing what we did over the weekend. The information you would provide your friends with is going to have more details. The information you would share with the teacher or instructor will be a shorter version of your weekend or more “high level”. [Note to Instructors: Consider modeling by giving an example of how you would explain your weekend to a friend vs how you would share it with a professional or boss.]
Here’s an example if needed:
- Telling a friend about their weekend: “This past weekend I went to the arcade with Emery and Lance. It was so fun. Lance beat Emery in Skee-Ball, and I played so much pop-a-shot. We were able to get so many tickets and we each got to pick out different prizes! We should all go next weekend! You would have so much fun.”
- Telling a teacher or instructor about their weekend: “I went to the arcade with some friends, and we played some games. It was cool.”
Review
It is helpful to know what is considered casual communication and what is considered formal communication. It’s important to take time to practice formal communication skills since this is helpful when talking with an instructor, professor, or employer. Below are two options to practice these skills based on This is a starting point to make a goal. To reach a goal, you must plan. We have several worksheet options to help you plan to reach your goal.
Option 1: Casual vs Formal. This activity has various phrases. Consider if they are casual phrases, like things you would say to friends that may have slang words, inside jokes, emojis, or abbreviations. Or are they more formal phrases like how you would communicate with a supervisor or co-worker that has complete sentences, punctuation, or greetings.
Option 2: Fix the Sentence. Students can take casual phrases and rewrite them into a more professional tone like how they would speak with a supervisor or sending a formal email. Formal Scripts for Different Scenarios is available for those needing more support.
Reflect
The way we communicate at work can shape how others perceive us, including our supervisors, co-workers, and even customers. Using professional language shows respect, responsibility, and confidence, while overly casual communication might make you seem unprofessional or unprepared. Let’s reflect on what we’ve learned. Consider the following questions and think about how you can apply these skills in a real workplace setting.
- Why is it important to use professional language in the workplace?
- How might using informal language affect how you are perceived by a boss or co-worker?
- What are some strategies you can use to make sure your workplace communication is professional?