LESSON 4: Effective Communication Skills

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the learners shall be able to:
1. Enumerate the different communication skills.
2. Identify the steps to effective listening, writing, speaking, and reading.
3. Differentiate the four essential skills.

Four Essential Skills

1. Listening
2. Writing
3. Speaking
4. Reading

Listening Skills
Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication
process.
Listening is key to all effective communication. Without the ability to listen effectively,
messages are easily misunderstood. As a result, communication breaks down and the sender of
the message can easily become frustrated or irritated.

10 Steps to Effective Listening

1. Face the speaker and maintain eye contact
2. Be attentive, but relaxed
3. Keep an open mind
4. Listen to the words and try to picture what the speaker is saying
5. Don't interrupt and don't impose your "solutions."
6. Wait for the speaker to pause to ask clarifying questions
7. Ask questions only to ensure understanding
8. Try to feel what the speaker is feeling
9. Give the speaker regular feedback
10. Pay attention to what isn't said—to nonverbal cues

Writing Skills
Writing skills are an important part of communication. Good writing skills allow you to
communicate your message with clarity and ease to a far larger audience than through face-to-
face or telephone conversations.

The Writing Process

STEPS OF THE WRITING PROCESS
STEP 1: PREWRITING- THINK AND DECIDE
STEP 2: RESEARCH (IF NEEDED)- SEARCH
STEP 3: DRAFTING- WRITE
STEP 4: REVISING- MAKE IT BETTER
STEP 5: EDITING AND PROOFREADING- MAKE IT CORRECT

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Speaking Skills
Speaking effectively is defined as speaking in such a way that your message is clearly heard and,
if possible, acted upon. There are two main elements to speaking effectively: what you say, and
how you say it. What you say means your choice of words. The words you might use when
chatting to a friend are likely to be quite different from those used in a formal presentation or
interview.

Aspects of Effective Speaking

1. Choosing your words
2. Your voice

How to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

 Voice Control
 Body Language
 Delivery
 Audience Relations

Reading Skills
 When studying, especially at higher levels, a great deal of time is spent reading.
 Academic reading should not be seen as a passive activity, but an active process that
leads to the development of learning.
 Reading for learning requires a conscious effort to make links, understand opinions,
research and apply what you learn to your studies.

Steps to Effective Reading

1. Warm up your brain.
2. Sweep the chapter.
3. Write as you read.
4. Look up words you do not understand.
5. Ask questions
6. Look for answers.
7. Turn chapter titles into questions.
8. Understand what you are reading.

Further Readings:
https://www.englishmate.com/blog/developing-the-four-essential-skills-listening-speaking-
reading-writing/
http://www.bchmsg.yolasite.com/skills.php
https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/listening-skills.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2012/11/09/10-steps-to-effective-listening/
#353f8ecc3891
https://www.skillsyouneed.com/writing-skills.html
https://writing.ku.edu/writing-process
https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/effective-speaking.html
https://www.verywellmind.com/public-speaking-skills-3024308
https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/effective-reading.html
https://shadyoakprimary.com/8-easy-steps-to-effective-reading/

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 Exercise 4
Effective Communication Skills

Name: _____________________________ Score: ______________________

Grade and Section: ___________________ Instructor: ___________________

Directions: Read the instructions and all the items in each test type carefully. Use blue or black
pen ink only. Avoid any form of erasure, alteration and superimposition on the final answer.

I. Read the sample speech entitled “Gettysburg Address” on this link

https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/gettysburg/good_cause/transcript.htm and do the
following:

1. One-paragraph summary of the speech.

2. Paraphrase the first and second sentence of the speech.
3. Topic outline of the speech.
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II. Classify the following skills into the four essential skills (listening, writing,
speaking, and reading)
______________________ 1. Revising
______________________ 2. Note-taking from dictation
______________________ 3. Using falling or rising intonation
______________________ 4. Using contextual clues
______________________ 5. Outlining
______________________ 6. Auding
______________________ 7. Articulating
______________________ 8. Scanning or skimming
______________________ 9. Spelling
______________________ 10. Comprehending

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III. On the blanks before the numbers, write the phonetic or dictionary symbols
(sounds) of the underlined letters. Refer to the example below.
____t____ 0. Pterodactyl
_________ 1. Pneumonia _________ 6. Shipboard
_________ 2. Psychology _________ 7. shipping
_________ 3. Philosophy _________ 8. applicant
_________ 4. Shepherd _________ 9. appropriate
_________ 5. Cupboard _________ 10. scooped