LESSON 3: COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVENESS

What to Expect?
At the end of the lesson, the students can:
1. identify the importance of communicative effectiveness;
2. determine proper clothing and personal appearance during speech
presentations and public speaking;
3. apply posture and poise as integral part of personality;
4. follow correct ways of achieving a good posture; and
5. appreciate gestures and bodily actions.

Pre-discussion
Based on the programs at school, what do you think are the effective and
unpleasant practices of speakers. What are your suggestions for improvement?

Lesson Outline
Communicative effectiveness can be increased by means of appearance
and bodily actions. Bodily action and appearance are not mere decorations of
speech. They are integral parts of communication process.

I. Clothes and Personal Appearance

Dress appropriately and let your clothes be in harmony with the occasion.
Flashy attires and too much jewelry distract the listeners. Neatness and cleanliness
should be observed. General personal, slovenliness, poses a problem because it
also distracts the audience. Most of all, ease, naturalness, animation, direct and
friendly manner are worth more on the platform that good looks and perfect features.

II. Posture and Poise

A speaker’s posture and poise include standing, walking, and sitting. No single
posture is best for everyone, but we can definitely say that a speaker’s good posture
should look normal, neither tense nor rigid, alert yet at ease; and should allow
freedom of bodily movement and ease of breathing. Your posture and poise should
be congruent to your speech.

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 To improve you habitual posture, begin by sitting, walking, and standing in
front of the large mirror. Experiment with varied posture and observed the exact
position of the feet, trunk, shoulders, arms and head. Once you have determined
your own best posture, practice it frequently and with exactness in front of the mirror.

III. The following will help you achieve correct posture in public speaking.
a. Walk to the lectern or platforms as though you were alert and interested.
b. Avoid extremes in posture not too relaxed not too tense.
c. Vary your posture during a speech. Avoid appearing as though your shoes
were nailed to one spot.
d. Look comfortable and alert.
e. Do not put your hands on your pocket.
f. Put the copy of your speech or your note cards on the lectern or rostrum
before you. Do not hold it with your hands, except you are hosting a
program.
g. Use the lectern and microphone as they should be used and not as though
they were some kind of crutch, blockade or an extension of you.
h. An effective speaker never leans on the lectern, never embraces it, never
rocks it back and forth; never climbs a microphone Such actions are signs
of anxiety, insecurity and lack of assertiveness.
i. Discover your own best posture. Do not mimic other’s posture.
j. Stand with your weight equally distributed on your both feet. Your feet
should not be spread wide apart.
k. Look down with your notes with your eyes, not by repeatedly bowing your
head.
l. Make yourself visible by facing your audience directly not sideward.

IV. Gestures and Body Language

In conversations, people are normally animated. They talk with their bodies
and hands. They do the same in public speaking. Natural gestures used freely can
add to the message. Moving the head, face, hands or any parts of the body while
speaking is a gesture and should be done spontaneously with proper timing to add

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emphasis to your speech. Each gesture must be purposeful. Avoid unnecessary
actions and gestures.
Each speaker gives two speeches simultaneously – one with the words and
with the action. The gesture shall be combined actions of the whole body – arm,
hand, shoulder, face, torso, legs, knee, ankle and feet and not one part. The size of
the audience determines the expanse of the action.A wide sweep of the hand is
appropriate if used before a large crowd, but looks ridiculous before large audience.
1. Pointing
2. Dividing
3. Describing or imitating
4. Approval or disapproval
5. Giving and receiving
6. Rejecting or restraining
7. Emphasizing
8. Facial expressions

Summary
Effective communication contributes to a successful public speaking
engagement. Hence, proper clothing and personal appearance during speech
presentations must be strictly observed.
As speaker, students must apply posture and poise which delineate integral
part of personality. We must follow correct ways of achieving a good posture; and
appreciate gestures and bodily actions.

Assessment/Enrichment
Activity 1: LET US DO IT.
Tasks: Read the following sentences below
utilizing the appropriate gestures to make the message
more effective.
1. I shall have absolutely nothing to do with the
proposal.
2. Come over here, will you please?
3. There’s not a word of truth in it.

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 4. What’s the difference, we may as well give up.
5. Some may choose subjection and slavery, but as
for me, give me liberty or give me death.

References
Andersen, E. (2014). Speaking with style (RLE Linguistics C: Applied Linguistics):
The sociolinguistics skills of children. Routledge. New York

Ballesteros, T. (2003). Speech and oral communication, Katha Publishing Co., Inc.,
Quezon City

Cohen-Almagor, R., & Yanovitzky, I. (2001). Speech, media and ethics—the limits of
free expression: Critical studies on freedom of expression, freedom of the
press and the public’s right to know. Science and Engineering Ethics, 7(3),
447.Quezon City

Fromkin. V, Rodman, R, & Hyams, N. (2010) Introduction to Linguistics. Philippine

Edition. Anvil Publishing, Inc. Pasig City

Gilbert, J. B. (2012). Clear speech teacher's resource and assessment book:

Pronunciation and listening comprehension in North American English.
Cambridge University Press.

Metcalfe, S. (2012). Cengage advantage books: Building a speech. Nelson

Education.

Padilla, M. (2003). Speech for effective communication. Trinitas Publishing,

Incorporated, Meycauayan, 3020, Bulacan.

Stott, R., Young, T., & Bryan, C. (2001). Speaking your mind: oral presentation and
seminar skills. Pearson Education.