In today’s world, strong communication skills are no longer just a “nice to have.” They are essential for success in almost every aspect of life. As technology and artificial intelligence advance at record speed, the skills that stand out most are distinctly human ones: the ability to think critically, connect with others, and communicate clearly. Whether children are navigating friendships, presenting a school project, applying to university, or interviewing for their first job, their ability to express themselves confidently will shape their opportunities.

Over my 20-year career with the Law Society of Ontario’s Investigations Unit, I witnessed a persistent and troubling pattern. My work involved interviewing, writing detailed reports, and testifying. We hired many bright, capable university graduates, yet time and again, we had to send new staff for remedial training in basic writing and interview skills. They had the intelligence, but not the communication tools to match it.

Reflecting on the past, university admissions primarily relied on academic averages. That landscape has shifted significantly. Today, many institutions, including prestigious programs like the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, place substantial emphasis on interviews. Rotman, for example, allocates 50 per cent of its selection criteria to interview performance. Applicants must articulate their experiences and aspirations clearly, often on camera and within tight time limits. This trend is not unique to Canada. Universities across the United States, such as Harvard and Stanford, also consider interviews a crucial component. Young people are expected to present themselves with confidence and clarity long before they step into the workplace.

At the same time, international comparisons show that some education systems place a stronger, earlier emphasis on literacy and communication than we often see in North America. Countries such as Singapore, Japan, Australia, and several in Europe consistently perform well on reading and writing assessments, and many of these countries introduce structured speaking and writing tasks throughout the primary years. In contrast, data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development suggests that Canada and the United States face ongoing literacy challenges. This highlights the need for a renewed focus on reading, writing, and speaking from an early age.
One practical way to respond is to intentionally build four interconnected pillars: reading comprehension, enrichment writing, debate, and public speaking.

Strong reading comprehension helps children move beyond simply understanding the plot. They learn to recognize tone, bias, and perspective, and to ask, “What is the author really saying?” Enrichment writing gives them a structure for organizing those thoughts, choosing precise language, and expressing ideas logically and creatively.

Debate and public speaking build complementary skills: debate trains children to think critically and respond in the moment, while public speaking helps them deliver their ideas clearly to an audience. Debating also teaches them to listen actively and consider multiple viewpoints, which encourages respectful disagreement and deeper thinking.

Parents and educators can start small: asking children to explain their reasoning, encouraging them to read widely, giving them chances to present to family, or having informal debates at the dinner table. Over time, these everyday habits build lasting confidence.

By prioritizing communication skills early, we are giving children more than academic advantages. We are giving them a voice, and the confidence to use it to shape their own futures in an ever-evolving, technology-driven world. powerofwordsacademy.ca

Hafsa Esmail, is the Founder and Executive Director of Power of Words Academy