Written and Verbal Communication

By the end, you can write clear emails and short reports, speak confidently in meetings and presentations, and adjust your style to your audience.

Job-ready skillAbout 30 hours3 stagesFree

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Clear communication means people understand you the first time, in emails, reports, meetings and on the phone. It is one of the top skills South African employers say young people need.

Turn on JavaScript to track your progress. The lessons are:FoundationsLearn plain language: short sentences, clear structure, the right tone.Task: Rewrite three long, confusing messages (from your own WhatsApp or emails) so they are half the length and clearer.Core skillsSpeak with confidence: voice, body language and structure.Task: Record yourself giving a two-minute talk on a topic you know. Watch it back, note three improvements, then record it again.Applied practiceUse it at work: emails, reports, meetings and presentations.Task: Write a one-page report on a topic of your choice with a clear summary at the top, and present it in five minutes to two people. Ask for feedback.

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What competent looks like

Writes short, clear, polite emails
Structures a report with the main point first
Speaks clearly and makes eye contact
Listens and asks good questions
Adapts tone for managers, customers and colleagues

The South African route

No licence is needed. Prove it with writing samples and a recorded presentation. Toastmasters clubs in many South African cities help build public speaking confidence.

Free resources

Writing and communication tutorials
GCFGlobal
Public speaking clubs
Toastmasters International

These links go to free courses and sites run by other organisations. We chose them in October 2026 but do not run them, so check costs, dates and entry requirements on their site. Broken link? Tell us.

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