Final answer:
The 'passing the buck' activity is used to test the listening skills of trainees, facilitating the improvement of communication skills within a workplace setting. It is an interactive exercise valued for its effectiveness in enhancing accurate information exchange, especially among employees with varying levels of language proficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passing the buck activity in a training session is primarily used to test the listening skills of the trainees. This activity involves participants handling information received from others and accurately transferring it, which necessitates careful listening and proper understanding. It is often used in training settings to improve and assess communication skills among employees.
In the context provided, the phrase 'passing the buck' does not relate to avoiding accountability but rather to an interactive exercise aimed at enhancing listening accuracy. This is crucial because, in a high-stakes environment like a workplace, being able to listen accurately ensures that information is not misconstrued or lost, thus maintaining effective communication channels. Furthermore, as the post-training survey suggested, such tutorials are considered highly informative, which hints at their efficacy in improving workplace competencies.
Non-native English speakers might find this exercise challenging, as implied in the third reference, indicating that these trainees may require additional support to match the proficiency levels of their native counterparts. This highlights the importance of customizing training to cater to a diverse workforce's varying levels of language proficiency.