2 Advanced
Maria Victoria Galupo
Chapter 1: My Daily Life
Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to;
- Apply effective verbal communication skills to share common challenges in daily life;
- Participate in a 15-minutes role-playing exercises that simulate a job application process, demonstrating formal communication skills and professionalism;
- Write a short story that reflects the daily experiences of someone else, focusing on how they overcome their challenges.
Vocabulary
Essential Knowledge
This course chapter focuses on developing communication and problem-solving skills to navigate challenges in daily life. It includes interactive activities to enhance interpersonal communication, and emotional intellegince. These skills are vital for preparing to reintegrate into society and pursue future opportunities.
Activities
General Instructions: Read the activity carefully and follow directions accordingly. In this section, you will practice what you have learned using English as the target language. Exercises include conversational, technical, and creative activities, which will help you develop communication, writing, and creativity skills.
Conversational (Sharing Daily Life Challenges)
What are some of the challenges you face in your daily life? How does communication help when you’re dealing with these challenges? Communication is not just about talking—it’s about listening, expressing thoughts clearly, and understanding others. It can help us solve problems, reduce misunderstandings, and improve relationships.
Communication skills are techniques or methods used to effectively convey, receive, and interpret messages in different communication settings (Tayloy, 2023). Here are some key communication skills (Indeed Editorial Team, 2023) that can help improve your ability to express yourself, build relationships, and navigate various situations more effectively:
- Active Listening
- Assertiveness
- Empathy
- Clarity and Simplicity
- Non-Verbal Communication
- Open-Ended Questions
- Feedback and Reflection
- Conflict Resolution
Below are videos the will give you solid communication skills advice. After you finished watching, answer the following questions below;
- What advice did you think applies to you? Why?
- Which advice are you most comfortable going through with right away? Why?
- Which advice are you least comfortable going through with right away? Why?
- Which method do you think is the best fits you? Why?
Activity 1. Peer Sharing on Daily Life Challenges
Instructions: Read and follow as directed.
- Choose a pair and discuss the following questions; (1) What are the common challenges you encounter in your daily life, could be at work, with family, or in personal matters? (2) What are some effective strategies or solutions you used to address these challenges?
- Each student will talk for 4-5 minutes while the other listens attentively.
- Practice active listening while your partner is speaking. This means not interrupting and showing empathy through non-verbal cues (e.g., nodding, making eye contact).
- After sharing, discuss the following question; How did communication helped you in overcoming everyday challenges?
- Use the rating scale below to rate your partner’s communication skills.
Technical (A Day in the Life of a Job Applicant)
What do you think makes a good first impression in a job interview? How do you think communication plays a role in getting a job? During a job interview, how you communicate—both in what you say and how you say it—can be just as important as your qualifications. In this activity, you will learn about key communication strategies to make a strong impression.
Professional communication refers to the exchange of information, ideas, or messages in a formal or business setting, using clear, concise, and respectful language (Matveyeva, 2023). It involves both verbal and non-verbal communication methods, all with the goal to effectively convey information in a professional context. Here’s the essential elements of professional communication (Rajan, 2024) you need to know to ace any interview:
A. Formal Language
Job interviews require formal communication. Slang or overly casual language can make you seem unprofessional. Example: Instead of saying, “I’ve worked a bunch of jobs,” say, “I have significant experience in several roles, including…”
B. Confidence and Tone
Speak clearly, with confidence, but not arrogance. Maintain a polite and respectful tone. Example: If you’re asked about your weaknesses, frame your response positively by showing what you’re doing to improve.
C. Non-verbal Communication
Good posture, eye contact, and a firm handshake (if applicable) show confidence. Smiling can convey friendliness and approachability.
Watch the job interview scene from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). Pay close attention to the body language of both Chris Gardner (Will Smith) and the interviewers. After watching the scene, identify the emotions and messages in that scene and write down:
a. The emotions being expressed by Chris and the
interviewers.
b. The non-verbal cues that led you to this interpretation.
Technical language refers to the specific terms and jargon that relate to a particular industry or profession (Naumovych, 2023). Using the right technical language shows that you are knowledgeable and serious about the job.
In a job interview, it’s important to use language that demonstrates your understanding of the field or role you’re applying for. This includes mentioning specific skills, tools, or processes relevant to the job.
Example:
Question: “Can you tell me about your experience with team collaboration?
Response: “I have experience using project management tools like Zoom and GoogleMeet to coordinate with team members, set goals, and monitor progress on group assignments.”
Answer the following exercise below by clicking “start the course”. Choose the best answer of the following commonly asked questions during job interview. This exercise will act as your guide in formulating your question for role-playing activity.
Activity 2. Role-play: “A Day in the Life of Someone Applying for a Job”
Instructions: In this activity, you will group yourselves by pair for a role-play, where one student acts as a job applicant and the other as the interviewer. Each student will have the opportunity to play both roles. Consider the following guidelines;
- The “interviewer” will ask 3 basic interview questions.
- The “applicant” must respond professionally.
- Use formal language, non verbal cues, and try to incorporate relevant technical language into your responses.
- After 10 minutes, students will switch roles.
- After the activity, discuss the following question;
- How does the effectiveness of communication and the use of technical language affect the outcomes of the interviews?
Creative (Through Someone Else’s Life)
What makes a story interesting? What can stories teach us about the experiences of others? In this lesson, we’ll learn how to create a short story that will inspire and touch the hearts of your readers.
A short story is a brief, fictional narrative that typically focuses on a single plot, character, or theme. It is usually concise, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand words, and is designed to create a specific effect or mood (Hansen, 2019). Unlike a novel, a short story limits its scope in terms of time, place, and character development, often centering on a pivotal moment or event in the protagonist’s life. The goal of a short story is to leave a lasting impression by delivering a powerful message or insight in a compact form (DeGuzman, 2024).
Below are videos that will help you in the following activity.
Activity 3. Short Story Writing – “Through Someone Else’s Eyes: A Day in Their Life”
Instruction: In this activity, you will write a 500-word short story about “Through Someone Else’s Eyes: A Day in Their Life”. In writing your story, consider the following guidelines;
1. Reflect on Peer Sharing for inspiration
-
- Think about what challenges your peers face, and how communication helped them overcome those challenges.
2. Brainstorm Ideas for story outline
a. Who will the character be?
-
- The main character is the person whose “day in their life” you are narrating.
- The story should focus on how this character faces challenges and uses communication to navigate their day.
b. In what settings does the story take place?
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- Describe where the story takes place. Is it at work? In a family setting? In a social environment? Setting helps readers understand the context of the challenges.
c. What is the challenge or conflict?
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- Every good story has a conflict or challenge. You can focus on a communication-related problem or a situation that you find difficult or challenging.
d. How will communication play a role in overcoming it?
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- Show how the character overcomes the challenge using effective communication strategies.
Let’s Check!
Key Takeaways
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- Communication skills are techniques or methods used to effectively convey, receive, and interpret messages in different communication settings (Tayloy, 2023).
- Professional communication involves both verbal and non-verbal communication methods, all with the goal to effectively convey information in a professional context.
- The goal of a short story is to leave a lasting impression by delivering a powerful message or insight in a compact form (DeGuzman, 2024).
Refers to the techniques or methods used to effectively convey, receive, and interpret messages in different communication settings.
Refers to the specific terms and jargon that relate to a particular industry or profession.
Refers to the exchange of information, ideas, or messages in a formal or business setting, using clear, concise, and formal language.
A brief, fictional narrative that typically focuses on a single plot, character, or theme.
Refers to the conduct, attitude that characterize a professional person
Pay full attention, make eye contact, and respond thoughtfully without interrupting.
Express thoughts, feelings, and needs clearly and respectfully without being aggressive or passive. Communicate your boundaries while respecting others to build confidence and prevent misunderstandings.
Understanding and sharing the feelings of others by putting yourself in their shoes. It strengthens relationships and helps in resolving conflicts.
Conveying your message in a clear, simple, and direct way to avoid confusion and ensure that your message is received as intended.
Using body language, facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice to reinforce or clarify your verbal message.
Asking questions that encourage deeper conversations and provide the speaker with space to share more.
Providing constructive feedback to others and reflecting on your own communication skills to improve over time.
Approaching disagreements calmly and finding solutions that respect everyone’s viewpoints.