Conversation in Youth Work: A Process for Encounter

Abstract

Conversation and dialogue are used as a central process within youth work. Whilst much has been written about the micro-skills of conversation, less attention has been paid to the philosophical realm. This paper examines how dialogue in youth work can be deepened when juxtaposed with the philosophies, principles and theories of conversation. Using qualitative and phenomenological methodologies, this study involved 32 youth workers from across Northern Ireland, in focus groups (N = 8) and interviews (N = 24). The findings illustrate how youth workers perceived dialogue in their practice, pointing to the connections with relationship-building, the development of critical consciousness and the equalizing of power.

Keywords:

• conversation
• critical self-awareness
• dialogue
• informal education
• learning
• youth work
• young people

Disclosure statement

We wish to confirm that the authors have no competing interests nor any conflicts of interest to declare.

Table 1. Overview of theoretical perspectives on conversation.