LESSON 1
Key Concepts:
Importance of effective communication in personal and professional success.
Different forms of communication: verbal, nonverbal, written, and visual.
Practical skills like email writing, formal letters, CVs, and job interviews.
Developing presentation skills for various contexts.
Understanding the communication process and its fundamental elements.
Stress management and emotional awareness in communication.
Why Effective Communication?
Professional and personal success.
Influence over others.
Indicator of intelligence and capability.
Communication Skills:
Language proficiency (receptive and expressive).
Crucial for career and personal development.
Nonverbal Communication:
Active listening skills.
Reading nonverbal cues in different contexts.
Stress Management:
Recognizing stress triggers.
Identifying stress responses.
Implementing quick stress relief techniques.
Managing stress in the moment.
Emotional Awareness:
Empathy for understanding others.
Self-awareness for effective communication.
Handling difficult conversations.
Conclusion:
The course aims to equip students with essential communication skills, emphasizing practical
applications in various contexts. Effective communication is presented as a key tool for personal and
professional success, fostering skills in writing, presentation, and interpersonal interaction. Students
are expected to engage actively through presentations and reports, enhancing their communication
competence.
LESSON 2
Verbal Communication:
Definition: It involves spoken language and is a process of symbolization.
Importance: It is considered the most effective form of communication, and people spend a
significant part of their day talking or listening.
Word Formation: Words are created through the human voice, which involves the intake of air and
its processing into symbols.
Types of Verbal Communication:
Oral Communication: Involves conversations between senders and receivers, which can occur face-
to-face or through various channels like radio, TV, telephone, and internet-based platforms.
Meaning: The meanings in verbal communication are subjective and filtered through individuals'
experiences, despite common language meanings.
Language:
Categorization: Verbal communication is categorized into language and transl ingual, where
language serves as a means of thinking and communication using symbolic signs.
Translingual:
Definition: It involves how words are said and emphasizes the impact of intonation, pauses, speed,
intensity of the voice, and emphasis on communication.
Influence: In communication, words have a 10% influence, tone of voice 30%, and body language
60%.
Functions of Language:
Description, Narrative, Social, Call, Literary: Language serves various functions, including conveying
real-world phenomena, providing information about feelings and thoughts, establishing social
relations, responding to the receiver, and involving creative language use.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Verbal Communication:
Advantages: Checking understanding, asking questions, clarifying issues, providing simultaneous
feedback.
Disadvantages: Higher rates of misunderstanding compared to writing, not suitable for permanent
communication about plans and strategies.
Types of Verbal Communication:
Individual Verbal Communication: Includes survey, dialogue, meeting, interview, and daily
conversation.
Verbal Communication for Informational Purposes: Involves narrative speech, press conference,
biennial, information meeting, briefing, statement, shura, and seminar.
Scientific Verbal Communication: Encompasses symposium, colloquium, conference, congress, and
panel.
Verbal Communication for Discussion Purposes: Includes open session, debate, and discussion.
Consultative Verbal Communication: Encompasses workshop, forum, and assembly.
Verbal Communication for Political Purposes: Involves rally and discourse.
Nonverbal Communication:
Elements: Includes body language, appearance, gestures, facial expressions, clothing, and the
environment.
Functions: Conveys meanings, supports verbal communication, and expresses emotions.
Importance: Nonverbal communication is considered fundamental and is often used unconsciously
and inevitably.
Features of Nonverbal Communication:
Effectiveness: Nonverbal communication is effective, expresses emotions, has a double meaning,
and is sometimes ambiguous.
Classification: Classified based on time, venue, individual, outfit, material, and relationship.
Important Points in Body Language:
Direction, Form, Contact, Distance: Elements like the direction of the body, posture, contact, and
distance play a crucial role in conveying nonverbal messages.
Language of Colors:
Impact: Colors are revealed to have a relationship with human psychology, personality, and the
spiritual world.
This summary provides an overview of the key points discussed in the text related to communication
skills and academic reporting.
LESSON 3
CSAR I - Email Writing, Formal Letter Writing
Importance of Communication Skills:
Educational institutions emphasize communication skill development.
Employers seek graduates with strong written and spoken communication skills.
Professional Email Writing:
Writing business emails requires specific skills due to potential consequences.
Focus on professional email writing in the course.
Choosing Communication Platforms:
Email is useful for exchanging information and disseminating good or neutral news.
Face-to-face meetings, calls, messages, and video conferences may be more suitable at times.
When to Email:
Consider the urgency:
Call for tasks within 30 minutes.
Text for tasks within two hours.
Instant message for quick responses.
Email for tasks within the next few days.
Types of Workplace Emails:
Request and Response Emails:
Majority of workplace emails.
Ask questions, assign tasks, seek acknowledgment or comments.
Include professional requests (e.g., sick leave, raise, discounts).
Clarification Emails:
Establish a written record of a previous conversation.
Useful for project details discussed in person or work updates.
Essential Email Components:
Email Address: Often includes the company or brand name domain.
Subject Line: Crucial; concise and informative.
Opening: Greeting; set the tone appropriately.
Body: Primary message; clear, concise, and informative.
Ending: Courteous conclusion, restate core points if necessary.
Sign-off: Appropriate for the audience and purpose.
Signature/Footer: Includes full name and contact information.
Attachments: Files sent with the email message.
Developing a Good Writing Style for Business Emails:
Select an Appropriate Tone:
Informal for personal, simple, and direct communication.
Formal for emotionless and objective communication.
Use the Passive Voice Wisely:
Use when the actor is less relevant or unknown.
Write Clearly and Concisely:
Use simple, everyday language.
Avoid jargon; remove unnecessary words.
Avoid Starting Sentences with 'There is/Are':
Rephrase for clarity and conciseness.
Verbs are Stronger than Nouns:
Express actions with clear verbs; avoid nominalization.
Sample Emails:
Examples of well-structured emails for order confirmation and catalogue request.
Developing a Good Writing Style for Business Emails:
David Richards' 5 steps for a better writing style:
Select an Appropriate Tone
Only use the Passive Voice When Absolutely Necessary
Write in a Clear and Concise Manner
Avoid Using ‘There is/are’ to Start a Sentence
Verbs are Stronger than Nouns
Categorizing Email Writing Practices:
Do’s:
Write a meaningful subject line.
Be courteous and clearly identify yourself.
Use distinct paragraphs to emphasize different ideas.
Don’ts:
Use colorful fonts and diverse font styles.
Make the email as long as possible.
Choose any language of interest for commercial communication.
Type the full message in capital letters.
Use emoticons in professional emails.
Use distinct paragraphs to emphasize different ideas.
LESSON 4
Importance of Communication Skills:
Universities and colleges emphasize communication skill development.
Employers seek graduates with strong written and spoken communication skills.
Professional Email Writing:
Writing business emails requires specific skills and attention due to potential consequences.
The course focuses on consistent and effective professional email writing.
When to Email Someone:
Email is a communication platform but may not always be the best choice.
Consider the message, audience size, and likely audience response.
Email is suitable for exchanging information and sharing good or neutral news.
Real-time Demands:
Different communication methods are suggested based on urgency:
Call for tasks within 30 minutes.
Text for tasks within two hours.
Instant Message for quick responses.
Email for tasks within the next few days.
Types of Email in the Workplace:
Request and Response Emails: Seek a response, asking questions or specifying tasks.
Clarification Emails: Establish a written record of a previous conversation or provide updates.
Essential Email Components:
Every email has common components: email address, subject line, opening, body, ending, sign-off,
and signature/footer.
Email Address:
Business email addresses using the company name enhance brand identity and credibility.
Subject Lines:
Crucial component; should be engaging, concise, and relevant.
Email Opening:
The opening should be compelling, matching the subject line, and getting straight to the point.
Email Body:
The body should be informative, clear, concise, and include specific requests or queries.
Email Ending:
Finish with a courteous and succinct salutation; encourage further inquiries if needed.
Email Sign-off:
Use an appropriate sign-off based on the audience and content.
Developing a Good Writing Style:
Follow steps for better writing style: select an appropriate tone, use passive voice sparingly, write
clearly and concisely, avoid starting sentences with 'there is/are,' and use verbs instead of nouns.
Examples of Email Samples:
Provided examples of well-structured emails for reference.
Categorizing Email Writing Do's and Don'ts:
Presented a list of actions to categorize as either Do's or Don'ts for efficient email writing.
LESSON 5
Title of the Presentation:
CV, Cover Letter, and Job Interviews.
CV Formats:
Three types: Chronological, Functional, and Hybrid.
Each format suits different industries and experiences.
What is CV:
A concise summary of education, credentials, abilities, and work experience.
Critical for job applications; showcases qualifications and skills.
Follows a standard pattern, beginning with contact information, education, and work experience.
Types of CV Formats:
Chronological: Focuses on job history in chronological order.
Functional: Emphasizes skills and achievements; suitable for extensive work experience.
Hybrid: Combination of chronological and functional; useful for work experience and higher
education.
What to Include in a CV:
Contact Details, Profile, Education, Work Experience, Skills, Achievements, Interests, References.
How Long should a CV be:
Entry-level CVs: Two to three pages.
Keep it clear, organized, brief, and relevant.
Some Useful Words and Phrases for CVs:
Use active verbs, avoid generic terms, personalize for the job, and keep it professional.
Transferable skills and achievements are crucial.
Guidelines for Writing CVs:
Use active verbs, avoid errors, be specific, tailor to the job, and keep it professional.
Do not lie or overstate; update regularly.
A-Z of Useful Words:
Achieved, Booked, Communicated, Developed, Efficient, Friendly, Managed, Negotiated, Organized,
Responsible, Trained, Upgraded, etc.
Some Useful Phrases:
Reflects personal qualities and accomplishments.
Tailor phrases to specific achievements and strengths.
