Dealing with difficult vocabulary

Don't assume that participants know difficult words, jargon, and union technical terms. Below are some ways to help participants understand difficult and unfamiliar language:

• Provide a clear language glossary of the terms used.
• Define technical terms and include examples.
• Write out words and names in full the first time you use them and explain their meaning.

Starting with the participant

Start from the experience of participants. This helps to unpack difficult vocabulary and concepts. Think about:

• What experiences have participants had that are relevant to the topic?
• How does the topic relate to participants' real-life situations, their problems, their aspirations?
• What questions do participants bring with them to this shared exploration of the topic?
• How will participants use their new knowledge and skills from the conference?

Layout and design tips

• Number the pages.
• Use dividers for different sessions or topics.
• Code categories of materials by using a combination of colours and symbols. For example, use different pastel-coloured paper for:
  • activity sheets
  • information sheets
  • visuals
• Refer to the General Writing and Design in the previous section for more tips.