What Is This Module About?

Have you ever heard the saying “Change is the only constant thing in this world”? This is
also true for people’s emotions. How a person feels from one period of time to another changes
constantly.
A person may wake up feeling very good about himself/herself but end up feeling poorly
before he/she goes to bed at night. Or he/she may feel the other way around. Has this ever
happened to you?
This module will tell you how to express gratitude and regret as well as react to expressions
of such emotions. It will also tell you how you can congratulate or compliment people as well as
how to properly respond to compliments.
You will also need a cassette player and tape which you can get from your Instructional
Manager. Listen to the situations presented in the tape and learn more about expressing ideas and
feelings. If you do not have a cassette recorder and tape, you can just read the full text of the
drama at the back of your module.
This module is made up of four lessons:
Lesson 1 – Expressing Gratitude
Lesson 2 – Expressing Regret
Lesson 3 – Congratulating and Complimenting Others
Lesson 4 – Expressing Dissatisfaction

What Will You Learn From This Module?

After studying this module, you should be able to:

♦ use appropriate words in expressing ideas and feelings;
♦ analyze situations and determine the appropriate responses; and
♦ express yourself clearly and confidently when responding to given situations.

1
 Let’s See What You Already Know

Before studying this module, take this simple test first to find out what you already know
about the topics in this module.
Encircle the letter of the proper response to each of the following expressions.
1. “You’ve been gone for almost a week and I took the liberty of doing some of your
tasks here. I hope you don’t mind.”
a. “Mind? Why would I mind? Thank you for taking care of things while I was
gone. I hope you didn’t have much trouble.”
b. “How could you? What if you didn’t do them right? I’m going to get in big
trouble.”
c. “Whatever gave you that idea? I didn’t ask you for any favors.”
d. “So what? Are you expecting anything from me? I’m not going to pay you, if
that’s what you’re getting at.”

2. “I heard about your dad. My condolences, he was such a good person. Are you
okay?”
a. “Okay? Who would be okay at a time like this?”
b. “Thank you. Yes, he was. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
c. “I don’t need your pity. Stay away from me!”
d. “No, I’m not! My father is dead!”

3. “You did very well in the exam I gave you. Congratulations!”

a. “So what? Who cares about your exam anyway?”
b. “It’s just a test. I don’t care if I fail anyway.”
c. “Thank you, sir. I studied really hard for it.”
d. “Well, I should, shouldn’t I? I haven’t been sleeping, thanks to you!”

4. “What you did wasn’t very nice. I think you should apologize to her.”
a. “Why should I? She was wrong!”
b. “Why should I apologize for something I didn’t do?”
c. “I don’t think so. If anyone needs to apologize, it should be her.”
d. “Yes, I know. I was wrong. I’ll talk to her as soon as possible.”

Well, how was it? Do you think you fared well? Compare your answers with those found in
the Answer Key on page 20 to find out.
If all your answers are correct, very good! This shows that you already know much about
the topics in this module. You may still study the module to review what you already know. Who
knows, you might learn a few more new things as well.
If you got a low score, don’t feel bad. This means that this module is for you. It will help you
understand some important concepts that you can apply in your daily life. If you study this module
carefully, you will learn the answers to all the items in the test and a lot more! Are you ready?
You may go now to the next page to begin Lesson 1.

2
 LESSON 1

Expressing Gratitude

How do you express gratitude to someone who has done something for you or given you
something? How do you react to expressions of gratitude? What do you say or do to express
gratitude? What do you say or do to react to expressions of gratitude? This lesson will tell you all
about these and more. Are you ready to learn about them?

Let’s Read

Read the following comic strip to get an idea on what this lesson is all about.

Hey, Rod! It’s already five o’clock. Is that so? Do you need any
Aren’t you going home yet? help? I wouldn’t mind helping
you with those baskets.

Do you mean that?

I would love to, Fred, but I can’t. I was

asked by the boss to finish all these
baskets for delivery tomorrow morning.

Of course, I do. What are You’re welcome! I know you’d do

friends for anyway, right? the same for me if I had a problem.

Thanks a lot! I don’t think I’ll be

able to finish them all by myself.
You’re such a great friend.

3
 Which expressions in the comic strip express gratitude?
The phrase “Thanks a lot” expresses gratitude. What other statements do you know that can be
used to express gratitude?

Let’s Learn

Listed in the box below are some expressions you can use to express gratitude.

Thanks!

Thank you.
That was very nice of you.

I can’t thank you enough.

I really appreciate what you’ve done for me.

Can I show you my appreciation by ______?

I am deeply grateful for ______.

I acknowledge with gratitude ______.

Do some of them sound familiar to you?

Now, look at the most common responses to these expressions of gratitude in the box below.

You’re welcome.
It’s okay.

Don’t mention it.

That’s quite alright.

No, thank you.

No need to thank me.

Do any of these expressions sound familiar to you? Have you ever used any of them before?
Look at the following dialogs to know how some of them are used.
1. Yeye: Thanks! I got the birthday gift you sent me.
Bec: You’re welcome. I hope you liked it.

2. Det: Thank you! I don’t know what I would have done without your help.
Joy: It’s okay. What are friends for anyway, right?
3. Edz: I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me.
Sol: No, thank you. I was just returning a favor.

Do the dialogs above sound familiar to you?

4
 We often hear similar lines when expressing and receiving expressions of gratitude. But
expressing and reacting to expressions of gratitude are not only done verbally or through the use
of words. Gratitude can also be expressed and reacted to nonverbally.
In what ways can these be done?

Let’s Listen to This

Listen to Tape Segment # 1: Thank You for Everything! and learn more about
expressing gratitude.

Let’s Try This

Choose one of the characters in the following comic strip. Take note of the characters’
nonverbal gestures. Then read the dialog with your Instructional Manager. Afterward, exchange
roles with your Instructional Manager and read the comic strip again. Make sure you read it with
feelings, proper inflection and proper pronunciation.

Well, Mang Ben, it looks like your son, It’s no big deal. All I did was tell
Angelito, is going to be working soon. him about the vacancy. He did it all
on his own. He’s a brilliant kid.

Yes, thank God for that! And thank Thank you anyway. I better get going
you, Aling Maria. He would have never now, I was just on my way to work. I’ll
gotten that job without your help. see you around, Aling Maria.

Okay, I’ll see you around then.

When you have finished reading the comic strip, ask your Instructional Manager for some
feedback on how well you read the lines in the dialog before going to the next part of the lesson.

5
 Let’s See What You Have Learned

Given below are various situations that call for proper responses to expressions of gratitude.
Write your responses on the blank lines provided after each situation.
1. You were standing in a crowded bus on your way home from work one afternoon.
Someone offered you his seat, what are you going to do/say?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

2. You have not been feeling very well for the past few days and want to absent yourself
from work but can’t because of numerous deadlines. Your friend offers to take on
some of your responsibilities until you feel well again. What are you going to do/say?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

3. You were on your way to a store in the mall but lost your way. You asked a security
guard for help and he showed you the way. What are you going to do/say?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

4. You have been looking for a job for over a month now and still can’t seem to find one.
A friend of yours then calls you up and offers you a job in their company. What are
you going to do/say?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

5. You dropped your wallet in church. You got back a little while later and a girl
approached you giving you your wallet back. What are you going to do/say?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions but you may compare your answers
with the ideal ones given in the Answer Key on page 20. Did you get similar answers? If you did,
that’s very good. That means you learned a lot from this lesson. If you didn’t, that’s okay. Just
review the parts of the lesson you didn’t understand very well before going to Lesson 2.

Let’s Remember

♦ We can express or react to expressions of gratitude in any of two ways—verbally or

nonverbally. We can say “Thank you” and “You’re welcome” in many different ways.
We can also say “Thank you” and “You’re welcome” with a pat on the shoulder, a
handshake, etc.

6
 LESSON 2

Expressing Regret

In the first lesson, you learned about expressing and responding to expressions of gratitude.
In this lesson, you will learn about expressing and responding to expressions of regret. Are you
ready?

Let’s Read

Read the following comic strip to find out how to properly express and respond to
expressions of regret.

Pareng Mario, I heard you were I’m sorry to hear that. What can I do?
looking for me last night. Why? Is
something wrong?

That’s okay, I know you didn’t mean

Well, yes. I have. Your dog knocked for your dog to get out of your
down our fence and dug up some of backyard. But I really need your
our plants last night. help in fixing our fence.

Anything, pare. I’ll come by your

house this afternoon after work. I’ll Okay.
pay for all the things we’ll need. Don’t
worry about it. And I’m sorry again.

Thanks, pare. I guess I’ll

see you later then.

7
 What expressions of regret were used in the comic strip? What responses were mentioned?
The phrase “I’m sorry” generally expresses regret. But there are other expressions that
express regret as well. Some of these are listed down in the box below.

Sorry about that.

I beg your pardon.

I apologize.

Please forgive me.

My condolences.

There are others not in the list above. Here’s how some of them are used.
1. “I forgot to give your mom your message. Sorry about that.”
2. “Oh, come on, I didn’t mean to leave you. Please forgive me.”
3. “My condolences, your mom was such a great person.”

Have you ever heard or used any of these expressions before? Do you know how to
respond to them properly?
Look at the proper responses to them below.
1. “That’s okay. I was able to talk to her anyway.”
2. “Okay, I forgive you. But please, don’t’ do that again.”
3. “Thank you. Yes, she was.”

Do you think you’d respond to the given expressions in the same manner? What other
responses can you think of?

Let’s Listen to This

Listen to Tape Segment # 2: I Regret to Say That . . . and learn more about expressing
regret.

Let’s Learn

We use expressions of regret to express sorrow—for doing something wrong toward

another person, for failing to do another person a favor, to express sympathy, etc. But just like
expressions of gratitude, expressions of regret can be given either verbally or nonverbally. You
can pat someone’s shoulder, hold someone’s hand, hug another person, etc. to say you’re sorry
or that you sympathize.

8
 Responding to expressions of regret, on the other hand, include saying “thank you” for
caring about another person’s loss or feelings. This can also be expressed either verbally or
nonverbally. Accepting another person’s apology or sympathy means you forgive that person for
whatever he/she has done to you or you accept his/her sympathy and are thankful for it. Doing
this may be a little hard but it can be done. After all, isn’t there a saying, “To err is human, to
forgive divine”?

Let’s See What You Have Learned

Fill in the empty dialog boxes with the proper expressions or responses to expressions of
regret in the box below.

What can I do to help?

You’re welcome.
I think so.

Thank you very much.

I heard about what happened Is he going to be alright?

to your dad. Are you okay?

Yes,___________
______________.

Yes, the doctor thinks he’s going to

be fine. But we’re still worried.

Frame 1 Frame 2

9
Don’t worry too much. You might get I will and I’ll ask all of our
sick as well. Remember, I’m always friends to do the same.
here for you. _________________
___________________________?

I really need your support right

now. Can you please pray for the _____________________________
fast recovery of my dad? _____________________________.

Frame 3 Frame 4

_____________________________.
So, I’ll see you around. Let me know
how else I can help, okay?

Frame 5

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 20. How well did you do?

Let’s Remember

♦ The phrase “I’m sorry” generally expresses regret. Expressions of regret are generally
given when you have done something wrong to another person, failed to do something
you promised for someone or you just want to sympathize with another person.
♦ Expressions as well as responses to expressions of regret can be given either verbally
or nonverbally. Nonverbal expressions of regret include patting one’s shoulder, holding
one’s hand and hugging another person.

10
 LESSON 3

Congratulating and Complimenting

Others

In the last lesson, you learned about expressions and responses to expressions of regret.
This time, you will learn how to congratulate or compliment another person properly as well as
accept another’s congratulations or compliments. Are you ready?

Let’s Read

Read the following news article. Pretend you know the person receiving the award in it.

Mayor Aguilar Grants Scholarship Award

Jane de la Cruz, a fourth-year student from the Caloocan City High

School, was awarded the “Most Outstanding Student Award” yesterday at
the Caloocan City Hall.
She is also this year’s recipient of the scholarship grant to any of the
prestigious colleges/universities in the country.
In a previous interview, she said, “She worked really hard in her
elementary and high school years just so she’d have the opportunity to get
into college despite coming from a very poor family.”
The mayor, in turn, had this to say, “I think she deserves the
scholarship. More young people should strive to be like her. After all, the
future of the country is in their hands, right? In fact, we’re planning to give
more scholarships next year . . ..”

What do you think should you say to Jane when you see her?
Write your answer in the space provided below.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Have your Instructional Manager check your answer.

11
 Let’s Learn

When do you congratulate or compliment a person? How do you congratulate or

compliment a person?
We usually congratulate a person for accomplishing something important. We congratulate
people like Jane de la Cruz in the given article in the previous activity. We can do this in two
ways—verbally by saying “Congratulations” or nonverbally by shaking the person’s hand, patting
him/her on the shoulder, hugging or kissing him/her, etc.
Now, when do you compliment a person?
We compliment others when they wear something that flatters them, they did something
good, etc. How do we do this?

Let’s Read

Read the following comic strip and figure this out on your own.

You look really nice today, Sol. Well, your new haircut really
Have you done something suits you. You look great!
different to your hair?
Thanks!

Yes, you noticed? I just had my

hair cut over the weekend.

Have you ever been in a similar situation before? How did you react to another person’s
compliments? So, how should you respond to expressions of congratulations or compliments?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

You should always thank someone who congratulated or complimented you. However, you
should always remember to be humble whenever someone congratulates/compliments you.

12
 Let’s Listen to This

To help you understand more about this lesson, listen to Tape Segment # 3: The Healing
Effects of Compliments.

Let’s See What You Have Learned

Choose one of the characters in each of the following comic strips. Then read them with
your Instructional Manager with feelings, proper inflection and proper pronunciation. Afterward,
exchange roles with your Instructional Manager and reread each comic strip.
Comic Strip 1

Hi, Diwa! I heard about the news. Yes, I did too. I think this calls for a
Congratulations for getting into the top- celebration, don’t you think?
ten passers of the civil service exam!

Thank you! You did great as well. I think so too. So, come
on, let’s celebrate!

Comic Strip 2

Wow! You look great today, Arlene. Are you kidding? The
color really suits you!

Why, thank you, Owie. I wasn’t You’re such a good friend. Thanks
really that confident wearing red. again and I’ll see you later.

13
 When you have finished reading both dialogs, ask for some feedback from your
Instructional Manager. How well did you do? If you were able to read the dialogs properly, you
may go to the next part of the lesson. If you didn’t, try rereading the dialogs until you get them
right before proceeding to the next lesson. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Let’s Remember

♦ We congratulate/compliment others when they have done something exceptional, they

wear something that really suits them, etc. We do this either verbally or nonverbally.
We can say “Congratulations,” “You look great,” etc. or shake the person’s hand, pat
him/her on the shoulder, hug/kiss him/her, etc.
♦ When responding to expressions of congratulations or compliments, we should always
remember to say “Thank you” and be humble lest we be branded arrogant.

14
 LESSON 4

Expressing Dissatisfaction
In the previous lesson, you learned how to properly congratulate and compliment others as
well as respond to expressions of congratulations and compliments. In this lesson, you will now
learn how to properly express as well as respond to expressions of dissatisfaction. Are you
ready?

Let’s Read

Read the following comic strip to know how to properly express and respond to
expressions of dissatisfaction.

Did you enjoy the chicken adobo, ma’am? Yes, ma’am, we could. We’re really
sorry for what happened.

Well, I have a bit of a problem

with it actually. You see, there’s a
That’s okay. Please just don’t
fly in it and I was wondering if
let it happen again.
you could change it.

Don’t worry, ma’am, we won’t.

So, how do you properly express or respond to expressions of criticism?

15
 Let’s Learn

When we criticize others, we should always remember to do so constructively. We should

not use harsh words in doing so so we won’t hurt their feelings. We should always put in mind the
golden rule, “Don’t do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you.”
When responding to criticisms, on the other hand, we should do the same too. We should
not overreact and take the criticisms instead as constructive ones. We should always be polite
even when someone is criticizing us. But when a critic is out of line, he/she should also be told this
in a nice way. Remember, anger never solves anything. Bear in mind that patience is a virtue.

Let’s Try This

Improper ways of expressing dissatisfaction are written under Column A. Write the letters of
the proper ways of expressing these in Column B on the lines provided before each number.
Column A Column B

______1. “Get out of that chair, will you?” a. “You should probably change.
I don’t think that cut suits you.”
______2. “Is that a sack you are wearing?” b. “I think you should go. I’m
really not in the mood to talk to
______3. “Get going, you slowpoke!” you right now. Please go.”
c. “You should probably study
______4. “Get out of here! I don’t want to talk harder so you’ll get a passing
to you!” grade.”

______5. “You better study if you don’t want d. “Please don’t sit on that chair.”
to be left behind by the rest of the e. “Can you please hurry up? I
class.” really need to get home as
soon as possible.”

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 21. How well did you do?
Did you get all the answers right?

Let’s Listen to This

It’s time again to listen to an audiotape. Listen to Tape Segment # 4: Expressing

Dissatisfaction and pick out some lessons form the story.

16
 Let’s See What You Have Learned

Check the comic strip which shows how to properly express and react to expressions of
dissatisfaction in each set of comic strips below. Cross out the one that doesn’t. Place your
answers in the small boxes provided below each picture.
Comic Strip 1

How could you, suki? I thought we Suki, I think the fish you sold
were friends. Why did you give me me earlier weren’t that fresh.
rotten fish?

How dare you accuse me of such? I Really? I’m sorry, I must have
don’t sell rotten fish! given you the wrong set of fish.
Here, let me replace them.

Comic Strip 2

Excuse me, miss. I would like to return Miss, what kind of store is this? Why
the defective pair of shoes I bought the are you selling defective goods?
other day. I brought the receipt with me.

It’s a good thing you brought the receipt

with you and came back as soon as you Sir, what are you talking about? We don’t
could, sir. I’ll take you to the store sell defective goods here. You better get
manager now to settle this. out of here before I call the police.

17
 Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 21. How well did you do?
Did you get a perfect score? If you did, that’s very good. That means you learned a lot from this
lesson. If you didn’t, don’t worry. Just review the parts of this lesson you didn’t understand very
well before going to the next part of the lesson.

Let’s Remember

♦ We should always be careful in expressing or reacting to expressions of dissatisfaction.

We must always keep in mind the golden rule, “Don’t do unto others what you do not
want others to do unto you.”

Well, this is the end of the module! Congratulations for finishing it. Did you like it? Did you
learn anything useful from it? A summary of its main points is given below to help you remember
them better.

Let’s Sum Up

This module tells us that:

♦ We can express or react to expressions of gratitude in any of two ways—verbally or
nonverbally. We can say “Thank you” and “You’re welcome” in many different ways.
We can also say “Thank you” and “You’re welcome” with a pat on the shoulder, a
handshake, etc.
♦ The phrase “I’m sorry” generally expresses regret. Expressions of regret are generally
given when you have done something wrong to another person, failed to do something
you promised to for someone or you want to sympathize with another person.
♦ Expressions as well as responses to expressions of regret can be given either verbally
or nonverbally. Nonverbal expressions of regret include patting one’s shoulder, holding
one’s hand and hugging another person.
♦ We congratulate/compliment others when they have done something exceptional, they
wear something that really suits them, etc. We do this either verbally or nonverbally.
We can say “Congratulations,” “You look great,” etc. or shake the person’s hand, pat
him/her on the shoulder, hug/kiss him/her, etc.
♦ When responding to expressions of congratulations or compliments, we should always
remember to say “Thank you” and be humble lest we be branded arrogant.
♦ We should always be careful in expressing or reacting to expressions of dissatisfaction.
We must always keep in mind the golden rule, “Don’t do unto others what you do not
want others to do unto you.”

18
 What Have You Learned?

What would you do/say in each of the following situations? Write your answers in the
spaces provided after each number.
1. Your friend just got home from the States and brought you some pasalubong. What
are you going to do/say to him?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

2. Your friend’s father just died of a heart attack, you went to her father’s funeral. What
are you going to do/say to her?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

3. You bumped into an old classmate of yours and he told you you looked better than the
last time he saw you. What are you going to do/say to him?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

4. You were given the “Most Outstanding Employee of the Month Award” in a special
ceremony. What are you going to do/say to all the people there?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

5. You ordered a cheeseburger at a certain fast-food restaurant, they gave you a

hamburger instead. What are you going to do/say to the person at the counter?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

Compare your answers with the ideal ones in the Answer Key on page 21. How well did
you do? Did you get a perfect score? If you did, that’s very good. That means you understood all
the lessons in this module very well. If you didn’t, that’s okay. Just review the parts of the module
you made mistakes in before studying another module.

19
 Answer Key

A. Let’s See What You Already Know (page 2)

1. (a) is the correct answer. It shows gratitude to someone who did you a favor. All
the other answers, (b), (c) and (d) are wrong because they do not showgratitude.
2. (b) is the correct answer. It shows appreciation for someone who sympathizes
with you. All the other answers, (a), (c) and (d) are wrong because they don’t
show appreciation.
3. (c) is the correct answer. It shows appreciation to someone who congratulated
you for a job well done. All the other answers, (a), (b) and (c) are wrong
because they don’t show appreciation.
4. (d) is the correct answer. It demonstrates the proper way of responding to a
criticism. All the other answers, (a), (b) and (c) do not.

B. Lesson 1

Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 6)

1. I will take the seat he offered me then thank him for being such a gentleman.
2. I will thank him/her for being such a great friend and take him/her up on his/her
offer. I will also promise to do the same for him/her when he/she needs to be
absent from work.
3. I will thank the security guard for his/her help then tell the store manager how
good he/she is to customers.
4. I will take the job he/she is offering me and thank him/her for the opportunity he/
she has just given me. I will then promise to do my very best for the company.
5. I will check if the wallet she gave me is really mine. If it is, I will thank her for
returning it to me and compliment her for being so honest. If it isn’t, I’ll tell her
“Thanks” but won’t get what isn’t mine.

C. Lesson 2

Let’s See What You Have Learned (pages 9–10)

Frame 1 Yes, I think so.
Frame 2 What can I do to help?
Frame 3 Thank you very much.
Frame 4 You’re welcome.

20
D. Lesson 4

Let’s Try This (page 16)

1. (d)
2. (a)
3. (e)
4. (b)
5. (c)

Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 17)

Comic Strip 1—Cross out the frame on the left and check the one on the right.
Comic Strip 2—Check the frame on the left and cross out the one on the right.

E. What Have You Learned? (page 19)

1. I’m going to take the pasalubong he brought me and thank him for being so
thoughtful.
2. I’m going to give her my condolences and say that I’ll always be there for her if
she needs any support.
3. I’m going to thank him and compliment him on his looks too.
4. I’m going to accept the award humbly and thank all the people who inspired me
to do my very best at work.
5. I’m going to approach the person I ordered from and have my hamburger
changed into a cheeseburger tactfully. Then I will thank him/her for being so
accommodating.

References

Bach, Kent. Speech Acts. http://online.sfsu.edu/~kbach/spchacts.html. Routledge

Encyclopedia of Philosophy. March 26, 2001, date accessed.
Bell, Bryan. Lessons in Lifemanship. “Chapter 16: Expressing Gratitude.” http://
www.bbll.com/ch16.html. March 26, 2001, date accessed.

21
 Appendix

Expressing Ideas and Feelings (Drama)

Characters: Narrator, female
Sylvia, waitress, 20 years old
Ferdie, waiter, 25 years old
Joy, Ferdie’s girlfriend, 20 years old
Nanay, Joy’s mother, 40 years old
Tatay, Joy’s father, 45 years old
Juancho, Joy’s brother, 17 years old
Inay, Ferdie’s mother, 50 years old
Kenneth, Ferdie’s friend, 35 years old
Fred, Ferdie’s friend, 27 years old
Cynthia, Ferdie’s friend, 25 years old
Chuchi, Kenneth’s wife, 30 years old

Narrator: Many people have difficulty expressing ideas and feelings. It may be because
they weren’t encouraged by their elders during their childhood years. Or maybe
because they are simply afraid that others will react negatively to what they have to
say.
Feelings are a normal part of how we react or respond to life’s everyday situations.
Ideas come naturally to us even without encouragement from other people. We must
be aware of our feelings and ideas and learn to express them. This will help us to
function as normal and healthy individuals.
There are many ways of expressing ideas and feelings. Communication is one of them.
As thinking individuals, we have the right to express our ideas to others. But how do
we express them? Is it enough that we say what is in our minds even if we know that
other people will be hurt by our words?
We must learn to be careful not to hurt, criticize or blame others or do things that
would offend them. In the module, you will learn about the different expressions used
in responding to different situations. This tape, on the other hand, will let you hear more
appropriate responses that you can use to aid you in expressing your ideas and
feelings.
So sit back, relax and start learning.

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 Title: Tape Segment # 1: Thank You for Everything!
Sylvia: Hi, I’m Sylvia. I work as a waitress in one of the less-known restaurants here in
Cebu. As a waitress, I have the thankless job of taking orders from customers and
serving them what they asked for. You can just imagine how I felt when one day . . .

In the restaurant where Sylvia works . . .

Trixie: Let’s sit over there, Gina, Irene.

Gina: I’m so glad there are still seats here.
Sylvia: Can I take your order, ma’am?
Irene: May we have the menu, please? You can come back for our orders later.
Sylvia: Here’s the menu, ma’am.
Gina, Irene: Thank you, Sylvia.
Sylvia: (to herself) She called me by my first name. (to the customers) You’re welcome,
ma’am. Just call me if you’re ready to order.
Trixie: Okay. What do you like, guys?
Gina: I would like a solo manager’s choice pizza, thin crust; a bowl of zesty potatoes; and
a glass of root beer.
Irene: I’ll have spaghetti and a solo anchovy pizza. And a glass of mineral water.
Trixie: I’ll have the one-piece chicken and french fries meal and a glass of mineral water.
Irene: Sylvia?
Sylvia: Yes, ma’am?
Irene: We’re ready to order. Please give us a plate of spaghetti (under sound), a solo
anchovy pizza, two glasses of mineral water, . . .

After the three friends have eaten, they asked for the bill.

Sylvia: Your bill, ma’am.

Irene: Sylvia, here’s our payment. We’re deeply grateful for your excellent service.
Sylvia: Thank you very much, ma’am.
Trixie: Don’t mention it.

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After the three left . . .

Sylvia: Oh, they left a tip for me.They’re so kind, I don’t think I can thank them enough.

Sylvia talks about expressing gratitude . . .

Sylvia: There are many ways to make people happy. One is by expressing gratitude even
for just the little things they do. In my case, the three ladies made me very happy
because they recognized me as an individual. They expressed their gratitude by calling
me by my name, by thanking me and by making me feel good about myself. They have
no idea how grateful I was for the nice way they treated me. They’re so different from
other people who treat me like I have no right to live.
Like me, many people would be very grateful if you could just murmur a word of
thanks to them. Would you want someone to be happy too?

Title: Tape Segment # 2, I Regret to Say That . . .

Ferdie: My girlfriend had a long battle with her illness. It was very difficult for me to deal
with her death. Fortunately, my friends and family helped me nurse my broken heart.
Here’s my story.

In the hospital where Joy was confined . . .

Joy: (whispering) Ferdie, I know I won’t make it through this day anymore. I feel so
weak. I feel so tired.
Ferdie: Please don’t talk that way, Joy. You can survive this. Your family, the doctors and I
will do everything to help you.
Joy: (whispering) Please call Nanay, Tatay and my brother, Juancho.
Ferdie: Here they are, Joy.
Nanay: Joy, try to rest. All this talking is not doing you any good.
Joy: (whispering) Nanay, Tatay, Juancho, I can’t take it any longer. I’m in so much pain.
Please don’t cry for me. I’ll be joining our Creator soon.
Tatay: Don’t talk like that, Joy. Hang on.
Juancho: (in a breaking voice) Ate, please . . . I love you. You can’t go yet. We still have a
lot of things to do together.

Joy closed her eyes never to open them again.

Chorus: Ate, Joy! Hu-hu-hu!

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At Ferdie’s home . . .

Ferdie: Hu-hu-hu!

Ferdie’s mother knocks on his door . . .

Inay: Ferdie, Ferdie! You have to eat, you know.

Ferdie: Please, leave me alone, Inay.
Inay: Please, Ferdie, listen to me. You can’t bring her back anymore.
Ferdie: Hu-hu-hu!

After a while, Ferdie talks about his grief.

Ferdie: I was able to deal with my sorrow after more than a month. My friends visited me
often and my family cheered me up too.

His friends kept him company . . .

Kenneth: Pare, my condolences. I heard what happened to Joy from your sister, Sandra.
Sorry about that.
Ferdie: Pare, I’m having a hard time coping with grief. Everything seems to remind me of
her. I loved her so much.
Kenneth: You’ll get over her soon, pare.

Ferdie narrates his leaving their hometown . . .

Ferdie: I went to Cebu to look for a job and hopefully get over Joy. Iloilo just held a lot of
memories of her. I met Sylvia there.

In a busy restaurant . . .

Ferdie: Oh, I’m sorry, miss.

Ferdie collides with Sylvia.

Sylvia: (mad) Look what you did. How am I going to pay for all these?
Ferdie: Please forgive me, miss. I’ll pay for them.
Manager: What seems to be the problem here?
Ferdie: I beg your pardon, sir. It was my fault. I wasn’t looking where I was going. I
accidentally bumped onto Sylvia here.
Manager: Is that what really happened, Sylvia?
Sylvia: Actually, sir, I accidentally slipped on a wet spot over there. He just happened to
be coming my way and so he bumped me.
Manager: Well, in that case, you have nothing to worry about, Mr. . . .

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Ferdie: Ferdie Alvarez, sir.

After a while, Ferdie visited Sylvia regularly . . .

Ferdie: Excuse me, Sylvia.

Sylvia: Ha? Oh, it’s you again.
Ferdie: What time do you get off work?
Sylvia: In about an hour.
Ferdie: May I take you home?
Sylvia: Well, I don’t know.
Ferdie: Will anybody get mad if I took you home?
Sylvia: No, not really.

Ferdie talks about expressing regret . . .

Ferdie: When I was grieving for Joy, I received many expressions of regret from friends
and relatives. They felt sad because I lost someone I loved very deeply. People
express regret too when someone fails to achive his/her hopes, desires or expectations.

Title: Tape Segment # 3: The Healing Effects of Compliments

Sylvia: I seldom hear people compliment me. I can count the number of times my boss and
co-workers complimented me with my fingers. Is a compliment now and then too
much to ask for? How about you? Don’t you want other people to compliment you?
You don’t know how happy I am to have met Ferdie. I really enjoy his company. I
love him for many reasons, one being he always lets me know how important I am to
him. I know too that I have healed his broken heart. I complimented him as much as he
did me.

Ferdie courted Sylvia . . .

Ferdie: Hi, love. How’s my beautiful baby?

Sylvia: (teasing) Stop it, you’re making me blush.
Ferdie: Come on, I want to treat you to dinner tonight. I got my bonus already.
Sylvia: There’s something different about you. Oh, I know. You had a haircut. It suits you
well.
Ferdie: Thanks, love. You’ve made my day. So, how’s work?
Sylvia: As usual, we had a lot of customers. Unfortunately, I haven’t encountered any
customers like the three I told you about before.
Ferdie: What a pity! There are only a few people like them. You know, little things such as
compliments give us the energy to keep on going each day.

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Sylvia: You’re right. Sometimes I wonder if my efforts have really paid off.
Ferdie: Yes, I know what you mean. You see, people were created with an ongoing and
substantial need for affirmation. We need encouragement from other people to know
that what we are doing is right and that other people appreciate us.
Sylvia: That’s why I’m so glad I have you. You really are wonderful.
Ferdie: Thank you very much. I feel the same way toward you too.
Sylvia: Come on, let’s have the dinner already. I’m really hungry. Oh, wait. I feel a little
dizzy.
Ferdie: What’s happening, love? Love? Hey, let me get you to the hospital.
Sylvia: This will pass. Don’t worry. It may just be due to hunger.

After nine months, Sylvia gave birth . . .

Nurse: Mr. Alvarez?

Inay: Ferdie, the nurse is calling you.
Ferdie: Yes, miss?
Nurse: Congratulations! Mrs. Alvarez just gave birth to healthy twins.
Ferdie: Yahoo! I’m a father now.

Relatives and friends came to visit Sylvia and the babies . . .

Ferdie: Cootchi-cootchi-coo. Hi, babies. This is Papa.

Kenneth: Knock, knock. May we come in?
Fred: Kenneth, what a nice surprise. Come in, come in, Fred, Cynthia. Come on in.
Fred, Cynthia: Hi, Sylvia.
Cynthia: You still look lovely even if you’ve just given birth.

Cynthia kisses Sylvia . . .

Sylvia: (weakly) You think so? Thank you very much for the compliment.
Kenneth: Wow, are these the twins? They’re so lovely. They look just like you, Sylvia.
Fred: Congratulations, pare!
Kenneth: Congratulations, pare! You two have such lovely babies. Who would have
thought . . .?
Ferdie: What do you mean? You think you’re the only one who can make babies as lovely
as these?
Kenneth: I was just kidding, pare! They’ll grow up to be very beautiful ladies. Look how
fair their skin are and such beautiful hair.

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Sylvia talks about complimenting and congratulating others . . .

Sylvia: Did you notice how lavish our friends were with their compliments? They
verbalized their affirmation by telling us how beautiful our babies were as well as how
well I looked considering I just gave birth.
Friends and family members affirm our self-worth by complimenting us or
congratulating us for a job well done. Their positive feedback make us happy. They
make us feel loved so it is only right that we do the same to them.
Narrator: Why don’t you start praising your loved ones too? That may be just the thing
they need from you. You know, there are people who do not need gifts to make them
happy, they just need to be reassured that they are appreciated. Try it. There’s nothing
to lose. You can tell your wife how lovely she is. Or you can compliment your daughter
for setting the table well or being good in school. Or you can tell your son how much
you appreciate his cleaning the house.
Just try it. You’ll find that your relationship with other people will improve.

Title: Tape Segment # 4: Expressing Dissatisfaction

Ferdie: When people have high expectations of others and they are not met, problems may
arise. They either become dissatisfied, annoyed, frustrated or angered. Sometimes they
feel all these emotions at the same time. That is why people should learn to express
dissatisfaction in a manner that would produce effective results.
Listen to our story and learn proper ways of expressing dissatisfaction.

Sylvia tells him about Kenneth’s phone call . . .

Sylvia: Love, Kenneth called earlier. He and his wife are staying here in Cebu for good.
He is inviting us to their house tomorrow evening. It’s his wife’s birthday.
Ferdie: I have a meeting tomorrow but I’ll see what I can do. Did he leave his address
with you?
Sylvia: Yes, love. Where are we going to leave the twins?
Ferdie: We can drop them off at their lolo’s place on the way to the party.

Sylvia and Ferdie arrive at Kenneth and Chuchi’s house . . .

Kenneth: Who could that be?

Chuchi: It’s Ferdie and Sylvia, honey.
Ferdie, Sylvia: Happy birthday, Chuchi!
Ferdie: Pare, why aren’t you dressed up? Where are the other people? Isn’t it Chuchi’s
birthday today?
Chuchi: My birthday’s tomorrow.

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Sylvia: But Kenneth called me yesterday and told me that we should come over today
because it is your birthday.
Kenneth: Oh, no, I’m sorry. I got confused. I thought today is your birthday, honey.
Ferdie: (annoyed and irritated but still keeping his cool) Ha-ha-ha! Wow, pare! I had to
cancel a meeting just to come over here. I can’t cancel the meeting again.
Kenneth: Pare, I’m really sorry. If you could just wait here. Chuchi and I are going to get
dressed. We can have the celebration today.
Sylvia: But how about your other guests tomorrow?
Kenneth: It’s okay. Don’t worry, it was just going to be a small celebration, anyway. We
didn’t really invite other people, only the two of you.

Chuchi and Kenneth went to their room to discuss where to go and got dressed . . .

Chuchi: And where, may I ask, are we going, honey?

Kenneth: There’s this restaurant I’ve been wanting to go to since last month. I see it
everyday on my way to work. I think it would be nice to go there.
Chuchi: You didn’t even tell me that we have a celebration tomorrow.
Kenneth: It’s was supposed to be a surprise.
Chuchi: Yeah, I am really surprised.

At the restaurant . . .

Chorus: Laughter
Ferdie: And I was about to get angry because I was expecting a grand celebration at your
house. I had to cancel a meeting too. Then I got disappointed because you didn’t even
know that we were coming.
Kenneth: Sorry, pare! My apologies. I got mixed up with the dates.
Sylvia: All’s well that ends well.
Chuchi: You’re right, mare!

Ferdie talks about expressing dissatisfaction . . .

Ferdie: When dealing with misunderstandings, some people throw temper tantrums or slam
phones or doors or shout nasty words at others. But that isn’t the way it should be.
Be pleasant and persistent. Don’t be rude. You won’t get results that way. Smile and
keep your cool, especially if the misunderstanding is between you and a stranger or a
person whom you aren’t that close to.

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