Course Description

Plain language is a key component of accessibility. It ensures your audience understands information, minimizes confusion and allows people to access critical details, regardless of their literacy level or background, improving communication and accessibility. 

This course introduces the importance of using Plain Language and offers practical examples to help you use Plain Language at work and with clients. Topics include: 

• What is Plain Language? 
• Why is Plain Language Important? 
• How to Use Plain Language 
• Know Your Audience 

Competencies to be Developed (Competencies based on National Competency Profile for Career Development Professionals)

8.4 – Communicate in Writing  

P1. Establish context, purpose, and audience  

P3. Illustrate points with examples, where appropriate  

P4. Tailor language to the intended audience, e.g. tone, style, sentence structure, vocabulary  

P5. Follow rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure  

P6. Write clearly and concisely:  

8.6 – Deliver Presentations  

P2. Identify audience, e.g. knowledge of subject matter, level of interest in the information presented  

P8. Create support materials, e.g. speaking notes  

4.1 – Respect Diversity and Inclusion  

PL P6. Identify potential challenges and barriers to the client, e.g. language, racism, discrimination  

4.2 Promote Diversity and Inclusion  

P4. Review current organizational practices, policies and procedures to identify areas of improvement, e.g. bias and systemic barriers in recruitment, selection, hiring, training and development, compensation, career development, promotion  

Learning Opportunity

By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

1. Define Plain Language – Explain what Plain Language is and how it differs from complex or jargon-heavy communication. 
2. Recognize the Importance of Plain Language – Identify the benefits of using Plain Language in professional and client interactions, particularly in improving accessibility and reducing misunderstandings. 
3. Apply Plain Language Principles – Utilize key strategies to simplify written and verbal communication, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding. 
4. Tailor Communication to the Audience – Assess the needs of different audiences and adapt language accordingly to enhance comprehension and engagement. 
5. Implement Plain Language Techniques in the Workplace – Practice rewriting and structuring information using Plain Language principles in workplace documents and client communications. 

Course Structure

This course is self-paced and will take approximately thirty minutes to complete.