Presentation Skills 2

WORKBOOK
Everonn Education Limited

„„Everonn House‟‟, Plot No : 96-99,
Industrial Estate, Perungudi, Chennai – 600096.
2010 Everonn Education Limited
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First Edition: 2010
Published by Everonn Education Limited,

“Everonn House” Plot No: 96-99, Industrial Estate,
Perungudi, Chennai – 600 096.
Phone: (+91) (044) 23718202/03 42968400/01/02
website: www.everonn.com
Production: KRDR, Everonn Publishing Division.
Table of Contents
1. Unit 1 – General Language Knowledge ......................................................................... 1
2. Unit 2 – Special Language Knowledge .......................................................................... 6
3. Unit 3 – General Communication Skills ..................................................................... 12
4. Unit 4 – Social Communication Skills ......................................................................... 23
5. Unit 5 – Professional Communication Skills ............................................................. 30
6. Unit 6 – Group Discussion Skills ................................................................................. 39

General Language Knowledge
Unit 1 – General Language

Knowledge
Objectives
To understand the influence of mother tongue in our speech
To avoid the common errors we make in our speech
To avoid the usage of double negatives and redundant in our speech
To practice exercises to sport the common errors in spoken English
Introduction
Enhancing our English speaking skills will help us convey our message more easily and effectively.
The best way to improve this skill is to speak in English as often as possible. Continuous practise
using different phrases, expressions and words according to different scenarios and situations helps us
to enrich our speaking skills.
Influence of Mother Tongue

In order to remove the mother tongue influence from our speech, we should practice every day and
work on improving even the smallest mistakes.
1. We overuse the word „only‟ for emphasis which is a source of constant amusement
Wrong Correct
That only I meant. This is what I meant.
Now only I saw. Just now I saw.
2. Too should not be used immediately after the subject in a sentence rather it should be
placed at the end of a sentence
Wrong Correct
He too came with me. He came with me too.
I too ate ice cream. I ate ice-cream too.
3. We add 'all' unnecessarily, probably for added emphasis. In reality, however, it's incorrect.
All has a very specific purpose, such as „The coolie works all the days of the week.'
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Spoken and Presentation Skills – Advanced Level
Wrong Correct
My students have forgotten My students have forgotten what I taught

what all I taught them. them.
I would like to thank all of you all. I would like to thank you all.
4. In most Indian languages you only have to introduce a word like 'na' to change a statement
into a question
Wrong Correct
He knows the way, no? He knows the way, doesn't he?
Ramu was absent, isn't it? Ramu was absent, wasn't he?
Common Errors in Spoken English

a. Cope up
This is wrong. The verb cope should not come with the preposition "up". It must be followed by the
preposition "with". Therefore, it should be:
E.g., To cope with the crowd during the festival season, policemen were going on extra rounds.
b. Discuss about
This is a blunder. Discussed is an action verb; therefore, it must be followed by the object. Adding
'about' is unnecessary and improper. So it would be:
E.g., We have to discuss this movie with our friends and write a review.
c. The prize will be divided between the three groups.

'Between' is used when there are two objects. 'Among' is used when there are more than two objects.
Therefore, it should be:
E.g., There was a tough contest between India and Pakistan during the final match.
The award will be given to one among the three girls.
d. Me and my father went to the zoo. / I and my father went to the zoo.
These are wrong. 'I' and 'me' are always placed at the end of a list of names/ pronouns. The correct
usage is:
E.g., My father and I went to the zoo.
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e. I could not able to study with this noise.

In this case, either „able‟ should be removed or „could‟ should be replaced with „was‟. Here are the
two correct possibilities:
E.g., I could not study with this noise.
I was not able to study with this noise.
f. He said me to go.
This is the result of a direct translation. In English, direct commands and directions are given using
the verb 'tell'
E.g., He told me to go.
g. Please on the fan.

In English 'on' is not an action verb; the 'on' must be qualified with a verb!
E.g., Please switch on the fan.
h. I will call you today night.

Just dissecting the word, to-day, shows the origin. It means during the day. Therefore, you should use
to-night.
E.g., I will call you tonight
i. The concerned person is not there

Read literally, this means the worried person is not present. What the speaker actually meant to say is
that the person who is involved is not present. The correct way to say this would be:
E.g., The person concerned is not there.
j. "It would have been more better."

The word 'better' itself implies that the option in question is superior -- the use of the word 'more' in
the sentence is, therefore both inappropriate and unnecessary. Thus the correct sentence would go as
follows:
E.g., "It would have been better."
k. I want two Xeroxes of this card.

The term 'Xerox' is the name of a company that supplies photocopiers! The correct thing to say,
therefore, would be:
E.g., I want two photocopies of this card.

l. One of my friend lives in France.

This is one of the most common mistakes, because the sentence implies that you have many friends
who live in France, but you are referring to only one of these friends! The correct way of putting that
is:
E.g., One of my friends lives in France.
Double Negatives
Negative words: no, not, nobody, nothing, none, never, hardly, scarcely, barely, only. Using two
negatives in the same sentence gives the opposite meaning. Avoid double negatives! The second
negative in English cancels the effect of the first negative. The result is that the speaker is saying the
exact opposite of what was intended!
Wrong Correct
I haven't found it nowhere. I haven‟t found it, anywhere.
He didn't do nothing at office! He didn‟t do anything at office.
Redundant
In all these cases, the descriptive word is unnecessary. Return means give back and repeat means to
say again! An aquarium houses fish and a ballet is always a dance! The correct usage is simply:
Wrong Correct
Please return my pen back. Please return my pen
The dance ballet was lovely. The ballet was lovely.
REDUNDANT CORRECT
advance forward advance
advance planning planning
appears to be is
as to whether whether
attach together attach
basic essentials essentials
blue in color blue
but nevertheless nevertheless
cheaper in cost cheaper
circle around circle
close proximity proximity
combine together combine
completely eliminate eliminate
completely finished finished

connect together connect

consensus of opinion consensus
descend down descend
disappear from view disappear
each and every day each day, every day, daily
end result result
few in number few
filled to capacity filled
final outcome outcome
first priority priority
follow after follow
free gift gift
gather together gather
important essentials essentials
last of all last
lift up lift
local resident resident
may possibly possibly
never at any time never
new beginning beginning
original source source
past history history
penetrate into penetrate
personal opinion opinion
postponed until later postponed
refer back refer
repeat again repeat
return back return
separate apart separate
small/large in size small, large
square/round in shape square/round
surround on all sides surround
total annihilation/extinction/destruction annihilation/extinction/destruction
true facts facts
violent explosion explosion
3 p.m. in the afternoon 3:00 p.m.

Unit 2 – Special Language

Knowledge
Objectives
To understand the meaning of a word from the context
To learn to build vocabulary
To learn to speak using appropriate phrases
To learn to build sentences
To practise speaking using useful language
Introduction
Learning vocabulary is very important when learning a language as it helps us to understand more
about what we hear and read and consequently use it in our speech.
Often the meaning of the word is revealed by reading the sentence. So look at the context to
understand the meaning of the word. e.g.,
President Lincoln's perseverance was deemed his greatest asset; he never seemed to give up.
(A) credibility
(B) benevolence
(C) compassion
(D) malice
(E) determination
As we can see, the above sentence contains the meaning of the word perseverance. Even if we don't
know what perseverance means, we can go through the rest of the sentence and see if we can get the
meaning. The words "never seemed to give up" imply that perseverance means determination. This is
what we mean by looking to the context for clues.
Do not look at the answers first. First read the sentence and understand its meaning from the context.
Then take a few seconds to think of a word that might match the meaning of the word. Only after we
have a word in mind should we glance over the possible answers.

Special Language Knowledge
1. Read the text below and answer the questions that follow
People all over the world love taking part in sports because they are fun to play and
give you good experience at the same time. Sports are exciting to watch, and people
from different countries are brought by their interest in top sport events.
1. What is the meaning of the word "event" as used in the passage?

a) result b) one of the competitions
c) something that has happened d) fact or thing happening
2. What is the meaning of the word "top" as used in the passage?

a) the highest part of a hill b) more successful
c) important, highest rank d) upper surface
2. Read the text below and answer the questions that follow. Find the meaning of the words in
the text
Our pet cats at home are relatives of the big cats that live in the wild. All cats are
CARNIVORES, which means that they eat meat. They have powerful bodies that help them
to move fast to hunt their prey. They have excellent eyesight and an amazing sense of smell.
The majority of big cats live alone or in pairs, but lions live together in groups, called
PRIDES. Most lions like to sit around and let the lionesses do most of the hunting
Try to answer the questions below without using your dictionary.
1. What is the meaning of the word "pride" according to the passage? __________
2. What is the meaning of the word "carnivores"? Circle the correct answer:
big cats b) meat –eaters c) relatives d) lion families
3. Complete the sentence according to line 1. Cats and lions are __________.
4. Which word in the passage means "birds and small animals hunted for food"? __________
5. Which phrase in the passage means "most"? __________
6. Which word in the passage means "strong "? __________
7. Which word means a female lion? __________

Kangaroos are marsupials, a special group of animals which have a pouch. Their babies stay in
the warm, snug pouch and live off their mother's milk until they are big enough to leave. Baby
kangaroos are called joeys. A male kangaroo is called a buck.
Answer the following questions according to the text above.

1. What does the word "marsupial" mean? __________
2. What does the word "joeys" mean? __________
3. What does the word "buck" mean? __________
For more than 200 years, Madame Tussaud's Museum of wax figures has been one of the most
popular tourist attractions in London. Every year, over two million people from all over the
world visit this wonderful place. There you can see the figures of famous actors and actresses,
politicians, writers, athletes and even criminals.
Answer the following questions according to the text above

1. What is the meaning of the word "figures "as it is used in line 1?
a) Numbers b) arithmetic c) human body, form d)influential people
2. What is the meaning of the word "attraction" as used in line 2?

a) power of pulling towards b) something that attracts people
3. Which word in the passage means sportsmen? ______________
In April 1986, two men left from the top of the Empire State Building – on parachutes! Both
managed to land safely in the street where one escaped in a taxi, and the other was arrested.
Answer the following question according to the text above

1. What is the meaning of the word "land" as used in line2?
a) surface of the planet b) ground, earth
b) c) country d) come to land

Vocabulary Building
This can be done by focusing on stories within general categories of topics like elections, basketball
games, or visits by important people. An interesting story can be followed for several days or more. In
each case, we will begin to see a set of words commonly associated with the topic. If the meaning is
not understood from the context, then we should use the dictionary.
Example: This idea can be illustrated with one of the stories in the news section: Fire in Dubai
industrial zone. Reading the news clipping we can find many words related to the topic fire:
Explosion at fireworks warehouse sparks massive blaze in Dubai industrial zone, two dead
Published: March 26, 2008 : A massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse sparked a raging
fire that spread through warehouses in an industrial zone in Dubai on Wednesday, killing at least
two people and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage, officials said.
When the fire first erupted, ambulances and fire engines struggled to the scene through the
city's dense morning rush hour, while helicopters hovered above the ruined warehouse in
Dubai's al-Qouz Industrial Zone.
Heavy winds spread the flames quickly, engulfing at least 20 other warehouses, raising a pall
of smoke visible for kilometers (miles).
Five hours later, Dennis Boll, training manager for Quick Intervention Firefighting units, said
"the fire was getting worse." After nightfall, the fire was still raging.
"There was one big explosion and then some small ones," said Sunber Raj, a laborer from India
who was heading to the bus stop to go to work when the explosion shook this city of 1.5 million
people. "The fire spread really quickly and the sun disappeared behind terrible smoke."
The zone includes of warehouses, factories, malls and labor camps that are home to thousands
of Asian construction workers. The lack of space between buildings was hampering
firefighters' efforts, the emirate's Civil Defense said in a statement.
However, firefighters appeared to have the blaze contained to the warehouse section, away from
the labor camps and a nearby residential area, which were not evacuated. A mall near the
warehouse where the explosion occurred was also not damaged.
Fires are commonly called blazes in the newspaper. If they are very big and hot, they might be
called infernos, or if they are especially deadly, the term holocaust might be used.
Similarly find the meanings of ; smoke, flames, sparks, billow, engulf, flammable, Faulty
electrical wiring, arson, extinguish, contain, erupt, race, rage, demolish, devastate, raze, gut,
char, rubble, debris, strewn, hamper, comb, survivors, perish, evacuate, flee, stampede,
succumb, fume, smoke inhalation, rescue.

Useful Language
1. Expressing a Preference
I prefer A to B because…
If I have a choice, I will…(a real possibility)
If I had a choice, I would…(not a real possibility, just wishing)
For me, A is much more attractive / interesting / preferable than B because…
I would much rather do / have / eat / listen to / … to A than B…
2. Narrating
When I was a high school student, I went to Kashmir to visit some friends.
After I graduated from high school, I…
During my visit to Kashmir last year, I…
Last year during the Spring Festival. I went to Kashmir to visit some friends.
(Also use “Whenever” or “while”)
3. Comparing and contrasting

A is much better / worse than B.
A is not nearly as good as B.
A is not quite as important as B.
A is almost as tall as B, but not quite.
When I compare these two items, it‟s clear that…
4. Suggesting
Maybe, perhaps, possibly
One possibility that I can think of is…
Another idea to think about is…
5. Expressing Opinions
It seems to me that…
This is only my opinion but…
After a lot of though, I have come to the conclusion that…
I‟ve never thought about this question much before, but it seems to me that…
6. Justifying Opinions
The reason I believe this is…
The most important evidence supporting my belief is…

7. Speculating
I‟m not sure what might happen, but one possibility is…
It‟s hard to predict the future, but I suppose it / we might…
8. Analyzing
There are several points to consider, first of which is…
We can break this question down into several parts. First…
Let‟s look at this step by step. To begin with…
9. Summarizing
Altogether, there were…
In the end, they had to…
When we consider all the factors…
Considering all of these ideas, maybe the best thing would be to…
10. Conversation Repair

Maybe I‟m not making myself clear. I want to say that…
What I mean to say is…
What I‟m trying to say is…
Another way to put it is…

Unit 3 – General Communication

Skills
Objectives
To enhance speaking skills by learning to participate in debates
To enhance speaking skills by learning to talk about advantages and disadvantages
To practise speaking skills – Debates and role plays
Introduction
Speaking skills will improve greatly through debates, role plays and basic conversations. Debates
give students an opportunity to hear their classmate‟s views and to express their opinions on matters
that appeal to them. Role play provides the opportunity for students to develop their understanding of
the feelings of different characters in a given situation.
PARTICIPATING IN DEBATES
A debate is an organized, public discussion or argument between 2 people or 2 teams. The person
with whom we are holding the debate is called our opponent. Each debater (individual or team)
argues for one side of an argument, either pros or cons of the topic.
In order to be a good debater, we should
Organize our thoughts
Be prepared for our opponent‟s arguments.
The form below will help us prepare for a debate.
What are some facts that support my position?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

General Communication Skills
How can I debate this position?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
TALKING ABOUT ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Talking about advantages and disadvantages of a particular topic gives us a chance to think about the
negative and positive aspects of or what we like or don‟t like about that particular topic.
1. Give an introduction to the topic general background information and/or

a definition
2. Talk about advantages (3-4 sentences).

The top loading machine has many advantages.
An advantage of the top loading machine is that…
Connect ideas with and, also, in addition, besides that, furthermore, moreover, another.
3. Discuss disadvantages (3-4 sentences).

Example: On the other hand, there are many disadvantages of the top loading machine…
4. Give the conclusion, by giving an opinion or a recommendation

Example: People should
List of topics for discussing advantages and disadvantages
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad?

2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of internet for kids.
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using mobile phones?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a library?
5. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of watching television.

EXERCISES
I. In these sentences, underline each correct word in parentheses
a) She couldn‟t eat (anything, nothing).
b) I didn‟t see (nothing, anything).
c) We (could, couldn‟t) hardly see through the heavy downpour.
d) She did not have (anything, nothing) to read.
e) I could not see (no, any) way to help.
f) I cannot find my money (anywhere, nowhere).
g) You (can, cannot) scarcely recognize her.
h) The children do not need (no, any) sweets.
i) We barely had (any, no) money.
j) William (could, couldn‟t) hardly wait.
k) Tarun was not carrying (no, any) packages.
l) The tear in his shirt (was, was not) barely noticeable.
m) The newsreader did not say (anything, nothing) interesting.
n) Of all the cars I tried, I did not buy (none, any).
o) The baby (cannot, can) hardly walk yet.
p) Isn‟t there (nothing, anything) you want for Christmas?
q) Haven‟t you (any, no) size small dresses?
r) We did not meet (nobody, anybody) at Jane‟s party.
s) I could not find my purse (nowhere, anywhere).
t) The wind was so strong I (could, couldn‟t) hardly stand.
II. In the following sentences underline the redundant expression, and then revise the sentences
to eliminate redundancy
1. Her handbag was triangle in shape.
2. Detectives search for the proof as evidence in an investigation.
3. The consensus of opinion on the basic fundamentals created the shortest meeting of the year.
4. If you refer back to the day of August 18 at 19 hours in the evening, you will recall seeing an old
man wearing a coat that was brown in color gather together his things before going his way.
5. Even though the surgeon had performed the examination a numerous number of times, he still
reviewed the basic essentials of the tests each and every day.
6. The first priority appears to be to group together the domestic animals that live in close proximity
to the house.
7. The local residents filled to capacity the new marriage hall as they waited to see the newly
wedded couple, bride and bridegroom enter the hall.

8. Advance planning can avoid total destruction of an ancient historical site.

9. Fruit at the grocery shop may possibly be cheaper in cost than fruit at the supermarket, but
nevertheless it is of poorer quality.
10. In my personal opinion, we should refer back to last year‟s proposals to see how we postponed
that work until a later time.
III. What is the meaning of the words in CAPITAL letters

1. Although he was tired, Rama was sure that walking up the hill was MANAGEABLE.
a) impossible b) ridiculous c) easy d) can be accomplished
2. Rahul feels that even old dogs are TRAINABLE

a) able to me moved b) able to be trained c) healthy d) able to love
3. The tiger paced back and forth in its cage, clearly angered by its CONFINEMENT
a) being trapped b) being hungry c) being afraid d) being on display
4. When they are FEARFUL of bad weather, government often closes schools
a) sad b) afraid c) because d) sure
5. Rohit was an emotional guy, but after his stroke he was most often AFFECTLESS
a) without money b) without a job c) without emotion d) without patience
6. When his child was returned unharmed, the King paid the rescuers a PRINCELY sum
a) magnificent b) minimal c) comical d) appropriate
7. Uncle Scrooge is known for his MISERLY ways

a) selfish b) generous c) like a miser d) full of money
8. The baby curled up on the bed and smiled showing her CONTENTMENT
a) state of anger b) state of hunger c) state of happiness d) state of love
9. The neighborhood's residents were pleased when the real estate DEVELOPER opened a shopping
mall nearby
a) a person who opens a store b) a builder
c) development d) a shopper

10. An EMPLOYMENT agency helps people find jobs

a) being employed b) working
c) a person who works d) retail
IV. Find the meaning of the underlined word in each sentence. Choose the best answer for each
question
1. She had often come into conflict with her mother-in-law
a) announcement b) attainment c) argument
2. The old woman‟s blunt questions embarrassed her, making her momentarily tongue-tied
a) emit b) ashamed c) loathe
3. We just need a couple more chairs so everyone can sit down

a) one b) two c) three
4. To invade is to –
a) deceive b) breach c) impair
5. Incentive means –
a) correction b) dilemma c) enticement
6. The vehement actions of the suspect required that he be handcuffed

a) evasive b) confusing c) determined
V. The words written in large letters have more than one meaning. Choose the meaning that
best matches the way the word is used in the paragraph
The scene opens in a grungy old BAR in Nepal. The drunken crowd waited breathlessly for a large
man to SWALLOW a shot glass full of a clear liquid. When he lowered his glass, his supporters
began to BOAST about the strength of their hero. The attention then turned to a woman who was the
TOUGH man's challenger and the noise lowered to a FAINT buzz. She drank the dangerous
SUBSTANCE and closed her eyes briefly because the room seemed to SPIN. A nearby female
WITNESS expressed worry about the woman's condition and the crowd began to exchange bets of
money. Suddenly the woman opened her eyes, spoke sharply to the crowd and FIRMLY slammed her
glass down on the table. The crowd of gamblers was RELIEVED to know that she was still willing to
continue. When the man passed out under the table the DISGUSTING game was over.

a) FAINT
1. ___ (adj.) weak and about to lose consciousness. She felt faint from the heat.
2. ___ (adj.) lacking clearness, brightness or strength. We heard a faint sound in the distance.
3. ___ (adj.) very small or slight. Our hope of winning is very faint.
b) DISGUSTING
1. ___ (adj.) causing a feeling of disgust. What a disgusting smell.
2. ___ (adj.) very unpleasant or bad. Awful. It is disgusting the way those children act.
c) FIRMLY
1. ___ (adv.) solidly fixed in place. The apartment is firmly anchored on the hillside.
2. ___ (adv.) unchanging, unlikely to change. We firmly believe in human rights.
3. ___ (adv.) determined in purpose. Resolute. Parents should firmly discipline their children.
d) BAR
1. ___ (n) a length of metal or wood across a window or door. The prison windows had bars.
2. ___ (n) a place with a counter where alcoholic drinks are served. We drank cocktails at the bar.
3. ___ (n) a group of notes and rests in music. She sang the first bar alone before the piano joined
her.
e) RELIEVED
1. ___ (v) to lessen (pain, anxiety or trouble). The aspirin relieved her headache.
2. ___ (v) to be dismissed or let go. The soldier was relieved of his duty.
3. ___ (adj.) no longer worried. She was relieved to hear that her children were safe.
f) TOUGH
1. ___ (adj.) strong, not easily weakened. A tough vehicle is needed to travel this road.
2. ___ (adj.) difficult to cut or to eat. This cheap steak meat is tough.
3. ___ (adj.) not easy, difficult to deal with. The negotiations for the contract were tough.
g) WITNESS
1. ___ (n) someone who saw a crime, accident or important event. The witness told her story to the
police.
2. ___ (n) someone who speaks in a law court about a person or event. I was a character witness.
3. ___ (n) someone who watches a person sign an important document. She was a witness at the
wedding.

h) BOAST
1. ___ (v) to talk with too much pride. All mothers boast about their children.
2. ___ (v) to have something unusual. Our stores boast rapid, polite and thorough service.
i) SWALLOW
1. ___ (v) to move food or drink down the throat to the stomach. Swallow your medicine.
2. ___ (v) to hold back feelings - not to show or express them. He swallowed his pride and asked for
help.
3. ___ (v) to accept something patiently or without question. He swallowed their lies.
j) SUBSTANCE
1. ___ (n) a material or a type of matter. Glue is a sticky substance.
2. ___(n) the truth. There is no substance in your accusation.
3. ___ (n) with detail, lacking in importance. His essay was long but lacked in substance.
k) SPIN
1. ___ (v) to cause to turn round and round quickly.
2. ___ (v) to make thread. It takes many hours to spin one spool of thread.
3. ___ (v) to make something last too long. Try not to spin out your speech too much.
VI. Choose the most appropriate word in accordance with the context
1. Jennifer won't go in john's car with him because he is such a _______ driver.
a. Reckless b. Inactive c. Polite d. Productive
2. john was late for work yesterday because of a succession of unfortunate ______. First, he could
not find his car key. After he found it, he could not start the car. Then, he missed the bus.
a. Incidents b. Victims c. Charges d. Effects
3. In arabic countries few people _________ crimes because they have very severe punishment for
criminals.
a. Make b. Form c. Commit d. Rebel
4. China's military exercises, conducted during taiwan's presidential election, were intended to
__________the results of the election.
a Affect b. Assist c. Judge d. Survey

5. Mark walked away ________when he failed to find his name on the list of winners.
a. Heartily b. Enthusiastically c. Devotedly d. Dejectedly
6. An earthquake is the _____ of the earth's surface that follows a release of energy in the earth's
crust.
a. Eruption b. Fault c. Vibration d. Violation
7. If we do not stop spoiling the environment, many animals would be _____ and can only be found
in the pictures.
a. Immature b. Invisible c. Solitary d. Extinct
8. If we _____ the second-hand smoke, we will get a lot of diseases such as bronchitis and
pneumonia which hurt our chest very much.
a. Injure b. Motivate c. Inhale d. Appreciate
9. Sufficient sleep and _____ food are vital elements to reduce stress.
a. Nutritious b. Nervous c. Spiritual d. Psychological
10. Our government should increase the number of monitoring stations checking for major _____ and
impose heavy fines on people who break the rules.
a. Elements b. Pollutants c. Necessities d. Ingredients
VII. With a partner, ask and answer these questions. Make sure you don‟t just say Yes or No.
Always expand your answer.
a) To whom do you talk the most in your family? Why?
b) What problems do you have when you talk to someone in a second language?
VIII. Answer the following questions

a) What kinds of food do you like best?
b) Are there any things that you dislike?
c) What is your idea of a perfect meal?
d) What do you eat on special occasions?
TIP! - Use language which expresses likes, dislikes, preferences
I love ... / I really like ..../My favourite is …

I‟m not keen on (eating) .../ I can‟t stand/bear (eating) .../ I hate...

I prefer ...to ... / I‟d rather have ... than...

I think ... is better than anything else
IX. In a small group discuss these questions

a) Do you think it is better to have one-to-one lessons or to study in a class?
b) What are the advantages or disadvantages of one-to-one lessons?
TIP! - Use language which expresses and justifies an opinion
X. Answer these questions

a) What kind of things can you do personally to reduce global warming? e.g., recycling, using less
electricity, etc.
b) Do you think that ordinary people can stop global warming or is it up to the government? Why?
c) Can joining a group creating awareness help?
XI. Try to think of 3 possible ideas for these two topics

Topics Ideas
“My dream vacation”
“If there is one thing you

would change in this world,
what would you change?”

XII. Discuss these questions with a partner

Make sure you give reasons for your answers
a) Do you believe the theory that too much choice is bad for you?
b) What choices did you have to make today?
c) Have you ever had to make a really difficult choice?
d) If you have to choose between two things, how do you personally make that decision? Do you
toss a coin, decide on the evidence …?
XIII. Describe a book that has influenced you

Remember to use the How, and WH questions
TIP! - fiction/non-fiction/a novel/an autobiography/a biography/a translation/the author/characters/
the plot/published/illustrated/for pleasure/for my studies/out of interest/it was recommended to me
XIV. Describe someone who has motivated you

Remember to use the How, and WH questions
e.g. who they are?
What was special about this person?
What other people say about this person and explain why this person has motivated you?
List of topics
a. A leisure activity you enjoy
b. An important festival in your country
c. A TV programmer that you enjoy watching
d. A teacher who has influenced you
e. A country you would like to live in
f. An important event that took place in your life
g. Describe a typical festival or celebration in your country.
h. Describe a typical day in your life when you were a child.
i. What was your best scholastic achievement?
j. What places would you recommend a visitor to go to in your region/hometown?
k. Do women still have too heavy a burden in their day to day life?
l. What, according to you, has been the greatest change in recent years?
m. What, if you are a lecturer what changes have you seen in education over the past few years?)
n. What can be done to improve education in rural areas?
o. What can be done to close the gap between urban and rural areas?
p. How do you see yourself in ten years time?
q. If you had the opportunity to change your job, what would you do instead?

r. If you had one lakh rupees, what would you do with it?
s. If you could start your life again, would you do anything differently?
t. What do you think your life will be like after retirement? Use reasons and details to support your
response.
u. Would you prefer to study in a classroom or take an online course? Use reasons and details to
support your response.
v. How would your life be different if you were very rich or very poor (whichever is applicable)?
Use reasons and details to support your response.
w. Some people think that experience is a good teacher. Others think education is a better teacher.
Which do you prefer and why?
x. Some students think carrying cell phones to class should be banned. Others think it is necessary.
Which do you support and why?

Social Communication Skills
Unit 4 – Social Communication

Skills
Objectives
To understand the role of body language in communication
To understand the meaning of body language signals
To learn voice modulation and importance of pauses in verbal communication
To practise non-verbal and verbal communications
Introduction
Presentations are brief displays or discussions of a topic delivered to an audience in order to get their
feedback, or to share knowledge, or to encourage discussion. Presentation skills are very important in
college and work. We have to develop the confidence to face the audience and the capability to reach
the audience effectively.
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Verbal presentation is enhanced by the effective use of our hands, body movement, facial expressions
and gestures. Most people know what “body language” means, and consider themselves pretty
competent at interpreting it in the people around them. In one sense, people are all experts in body
language, because it is a type of communication that humans were using long before spoken or written
language existed.
a) Stance is how we stand in front of your audience as we speak.

Don‟t slouch
Show confidence
Walk like a lion
b) Gesture is the movement made by our hands/arms to express a meaning or an emotion.

Don‟t point at anyone in the audience
Keep hands in full view
Avoid keeping hands on hips
Don‟t clench fists and raise them
Practise more animated gestures
Don‟t keep arms crossed across the body

c) Eye Contact helps us to relate to our audience.

Make eye contact with everyone
Look at the audience in a general “z” formation
Along with eye contact also nod head every now and then
d) Facial Expressions is a manifestation of our views with regard to our topic and should be
combined with our gestures.
Smile a lot
Don‟t arch eyebrows unnecessarily
Don‟t frown
Avoid making grimaces
1. Below are eleven different pictures and an explanation of what is actually happening in each
picture
Write down in the space provided your thoughts on the meaning of the body language signals
a. A man is rubbing his hands together very quickly. What message is
he conveying?
b. A man is rubbing his hands slowly together as though wiping his

hands in a towel. What message is he conveying?
c. A man is holding his palms upwards. What message is he

conveying?
d. A man is holding his hands in a steepled position. What message is

he conveying?
e. A lady is seated with her legs and hands crossed. What message is
she conveying?

f. A woman is looking at you. She is listening to you with her arms

crossed. What message is she conveying?
g. A man is seated at his desk and is leaning back with his hands
clasped together at the back of his head. What message is he
conveying?
h. A lady is seated and she is stroking her chin with her first two
fingers and thumb. What message is she conveying?
i. A lady is seated with her hands on her knees and she is leaning
further forward. Her heels are off the ground and she looks as though
she is about to stand up. What message is she conveying?
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
A person‟s voice reflects his/her personality. All our feelings and emotions are reflected through our
voice. Our voice should be soft, pleasant, bold, confident, clear and well pronounced in order to
attract an audience. We need to practice in order to gain this diversity in our vocal skills because
otherwise we will sound boring and lose the attention of our audience. Vocal variety is achieved
through the combination of volume, pitch, stress, tone and pause.
1. Volume - Volume is the loudness or softness of our voice.

2. Pitch - The highness and lowness of our voice is known as pitch.
3. Stress - Stress is another important element of speech. Stress is the emphasis we place on words
which can change the meaning of our sentences.

Example
I applied for the job (but I don't think I'll get it).
I applied for the job (not I applied myself to the job).
I applied for the job (the one I've been dreaming about for years!)
I applied for the job (not the lifestyle!).
4. Tone - It is the way a person says something which indicates what they are feeling or
thinking. Our tone can convey our anger, sadness, love, despair, joy, shyness, etc.
Notice how the meaning of each sentence is affected by the tone of our voice
(a natural kind tone) Please close the door.
(angry tone) Please close that door.
(impatient tone, slowly drawn out with force on each word) Please close that door!
(frightened tone, rapid, excited, and high-pitched) Close the door!
5. Pause - We can make our speech more effective by adding pauses at appropriate places. Pause is
used to build tension or to allow audiences to think over an interesting point made within the
speech. Punctuation also helps us determine when to pause and whether the pause should be brief
or long. We can use the counting system to help us with pausing.
For a full stop, the count is 1, 2
For a comma, the count is 1
For a semi-colon, the count is 1
For a colon, the count is 1, 2
Between the end of one paragraph and the start of the next the count is 1, 2, 3
Example
Below is an excerpt from Martin Luther King Junior's famous 1963 speech
'I Have a Dream'
'This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country,
'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's
pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation, this must
become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring
from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the
curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every
molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
The first sentence would go something like this
'This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning,
(Pause and count 1 for breath and for emphasis. You are starting to quote something important.
Give your audience time to anticipate the new meaning.)
"My country,
(Pause and count 1- to underline the importance of 'my country')
'tis of thee,
(Pause and count 1 - to underline 'thee')
sweet land of liberty,

(Pause and count 1 - to underline 'liberty')
of thee I sing.
(Pause and count 1, 2 - to give the audience time to take in the whole meaning of the previous
phrases.)
Land where my fathers died,

(Pause and count 1 - to underline message of the phrase)
land of the pilgrim's pride,

(Pause and count 1 - to underline message of the phrase)
from every mountainside,

(Pause and count 1 - to underline the message of the phrase)
let freedom ring."

(Pause and count 1, 2 - to allow the audience to take in the full impact of the previous phrases.)

Example
Below are some more practice exercises
a) 'Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by
anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that
I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at twelve o'clock at night. It was
remarked that the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously.
In consideration of the day and hour of my birth, it was declared by the nurse, and by some sage
women in the neighborhood who had taken a lively interest in me several months before there was any
possibility of our becoming personally acquainted, first, that I was destined to be unlucky in life; and
secondly, that I was privileged to see ghosts and spirits; both these gifts inevitably attaching, as they
believed, to all unlucky infants of either gender, born towards the small hours on a Friday night.'
b) Read the following excerpt from President Barack Obama‟s victory speech (November 4, 2008)
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my
mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others
who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is
106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in
the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because
of the colour of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and
the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who
pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand
up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer
fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a
generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a
preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own
science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast

her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she
knows how America can change. Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let
us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so
lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have
made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to
work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of
peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are
one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who
tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Unit 5 – Professional
Communication Skills
Objectives
To learn the basics of presentation
To learn the strategies to begin and end a presentation
To learn to effectively present a topic
To practise presentation skills
Introduction
Good oral presentation involves the art of involving our audience and catering to the needs of our
audience. It requires our knowledge of our audience, careful planning, and attention to delivery.
STEP 1
PLANNING YOUR PRESENTATION
Before actually preparing a presentation first determine
Who is the audience? How will they feel about the topic?
What is the main purpose of the topic?
What information and evidence will be used to support the main idea or topic, and how will it be
structured? (this usually means preparing an overall outline or plan)
How much time is allotted for the presentation?
Fill in this audience profile before you make a presentation

a. Who are the audience?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
b. How many will be there?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
c. Why are they coming?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Professional Communication Skills
d. What do they know about the subject?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
e. Why are they interested in the subject?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
f. What is their relationship to you?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Write the purpose of your own presentation with a maximum of seven words in the box below
STEP 2
PREPARING THE INTRODUCTION
The introduction is critical; it lays the foundation for the entire presentation
Always
1. Begin to connect with the audience, and develop a rapport
2. Get the audience‟s attention; demonstrate that the topic matters to THEM.
3. Preview the main idea or topic
4. Outline the structure of the presentation
Write in the box the “introduction” for your presentation

This will help you to:
Capture interest of the audience
Relate the subject to the audience
Open the talk with an interesting beginning. You can use story, humour, poem, quotations or

illustrations to open your talk.
STEP 3
PREPARING THE BODY OF YOUR PRESENTATION
The body of the presentation is where one provides the actual information, details and evidence to
support the main idea or topic. Since it has the most information to convey, it takes up the majority of
the time allotted for the presentation.
Usually there will be several sections in the body, each corresponding to one of the main points in the
outline. This is where one delves more deeply into the argument, providing clear evidence, relevant
examples, anecdotes and (in the case of sales presentations) strong testimonials and references.
Write in the box below the “body” of your presentation

Have 3 or 4 main points
Cover 80% of your presentation

STEP 4
PREPARING THE CONCLUSION
The conclusion is where the main idea of the presentation can be reinforced in the minds of the
audience. The argument or the key points should be briefly summarized, and - if appropriate - the
audience should be made to respond. Take advantage of the fact that the audience‟s attention level
increases dramatically as the end of the presentation is near.
Write in the box below the “conclusion” of your presentation

Summarize main points
Relate conclusions to the purpose of the talk
Prepare an interesting ending. You can use story, humour, call-for-action points or quotations to
make an interesting ending.

STRUCTURE OF AN ORAL PRESENTATION

1. Get people's attention
Can I have everybody‟s attention please?
Shall we start?
Shall we begin?
Let's get started.
2. Welcome them
Welcome to HPL.
Thank you for coming today.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
On behalf of HPL, I'd like to welcome you.
3. Introduce self
My name's Robert. I'm responsible for travel arrangements.
For those of you who don't know me, my name is Ramesh.
As you know, I'm in charge of Finance.
I'm the new Marketing Manager.
4. State the purpose of the presentation

Talk about = to speak about a subject
Today I'd like to talk about our plans for communication facilities.
I'm going to be talking to you about the results of our survey.

Report on = to tell you about what has been done.

I'm going to report on this month‟s survey.
Today I will be reporting on the progress we have made since our last meeting.
Take a look at = to examine
First, let's take a look at what we have achieved so far.
Before we go on to the figures, I'd like to take a look at office automation.
Tell you about = to speak to someone to give them information or instructions
First, I will tell you about the present situation then go onto what we are going to do.
When I have finished, Selvaraj will then tell you about what is happening in Poona.
Show = to explain something by doing it or by giving instructions.
The object of this morning's talk is to show you how to put theory into practice.
Today I'm going to show you how to get the most out of the new software.
Outline = to give the main facts or information about something.
I'd like to outline the new policy and give you some practical examples.
I will give you a brief outline and then we can move on to the Q & A Session.
Fill you in on = to give some extra or missing information
I'd like to quickly fill you in on what has happened.
When I have finished outlining the policy, Selvaraj will fill you in on what will be our course
of action.
Give an overview of = to give a short description with general information but no details.
Firstly, I would like to give you a brief overview of the situation.
I'll give you an overview of our objectives and then we‟ll discuss how we‟ll be working
towards it.
Highlight = draw attention to or emphasize the important fact or facts.
The results highlight our strengths and our weaknesses.
I'd now like to highlight our position in the Global market.
Discuss = to talk about ideas or opinions on a subject in more detail.
I'm going to discuss our options in a more detailed manner.
After a brief overview of the results, I'd like to discuss the implications for the sales
department.
5. State how one wants to deal with questions

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them as we go along.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Could you wait for clarifications till I wrap up this Presentation?
There will be plenty of time for questions at the end.

At the end of the talk, one may get questions. One doesn't have to answer all the questions - they
may not be good questions.
If it is a good question, thank the person and answer it.
Some of the questions may be irrelevant; say so politely and get another question.
Some may be unnecessary because you have already given the answer. Repeat the answer briefly
and get the next question.
Some questions may be difficult because you don't have the information. Therefore tell the person
that you‟ll provide him with the required information later.
When one gets a question, comment on it first. This will give time to think. Here are some useful
expressions to help one do that.
Examples
Why do think that the problem lies with the HR department?
Ans: That's a very interesting question.
What do you have to say about your performance?
Ans: I‟m glad you've asked that question.
How far is this going to impact our work?
Ans: A good question.
Could you please clarify your stance on the following issues?
Ans: I‟ll answer that later.
What is the actual reason for our Team‟s poor performance?
Ans: I am sorry; I‟m not in a position to answer that.
Why are you dodging the issue of the Unions?
Ans… I have already clarified my stance on that.
Don‟t you feel that our employment relations are at an all-time low because of interdepartmental
problems?
Ans: I don't see the connection.
Do you mean to say that you were not aware of anything your employee did in his spare-time?
Ans: I‟m sorry, I don‟t follow you.
How is this going to affect our profit-margin?
Ans: I think that is a very different issue.
6. Signposting
When giving a presentation, there are certain key words to use to ‟signpost‟ (indicate) different stages
in the presentation.
When one wants to make the next point,

Moving on to the next point.

I‟d like to move on to the next point if there are no further questions
When one wants to change to a completely different topic,
I‟d like to turn to something completely different.
Let‟s turn now to our plans for next year.
When one wants to give more details about a topic
I‟d like to expand more on this problem we have had in Delhi.
Would you like me to expand a little more on that or have you understood enough?
I don‟t want to elaborate any more on that as I‟m short of time.
When one wants to talk about something which is off the topic of the presentation
I‟d like to digress here for a moment and just say a word of thanks to James for organizing
this meeting.
Digressing for a moment, I‟d like to say a few words about our problems at HPL.
When one wants to refer back to an earlier point
Going back to something I said earlier, the situation in our Finance Department is becoming
more problematic.
I‟d like to go back to something Jenny said in her presentation.
To just give the outline of a point,
If I could just summarize a few points from Prakash‟s report.
I don‟t have a lot of time left, so I‟m going to summarize the next few points.
To repeat the main points of what has been said
I‟d like to quickly recap the main points of my presentation.
Recapping quickly on what was said before I started to talk on Interdepartmental
communication…
For the final remarks
I‟d like to conclude by leaving you with this message …
I‟d like to conclude by saying that nobody‟s perfect.
7. Improvising
No matter how well you prepare a presentation, problems sometimes occur. If this happens, you must
improvise to salvage your presentation. Following are ways to handle specific problems that occur
during presentations:
Microphone problems
If you experience feedback, popping noises, or distortion, you may be too close--move back
If the microphone problem continues, fill your lungs with air and speak without a mike

Audio-visual support problems

You cannot depend on audio-visual supports for presentation success and you must be prepared to
proceed without them
If an audio-visual problem arises during your presentation, choose the path that is least distracting
to the audience to correct the problem
Unfriendly audiences
Answer hostile questions briefly, without becoming defensive, and then take another question
Address unfriendly audience members by first stressing areas of mutual agreement or
understanding
Handle critics by pausing, making eye contact with the critic, but not saying anything. Usually an
audience member will address them. If this fails, ask the critic to speak to you after your
presentation is over. If you are criticised a third time, request that the critic be removed from the
room

Group Discussion Skills
Unit 6 – Group Discussion Skills

Objectives
To know why and how a GD is conducted
To know the different types of GD
To learn the do‟s and don‟ts in a GD
To practise GD skills
Introduction
Group discussions are held by the interviewers in order to judge our listening skills and our ability to
voice our opinion. The interviewer is also determining whether we are capable of working as a team
and whether we possess leadership qualities.
Different parts of a GD (considering a 15 minutes GD)

Chaos period. (1-2 minutes)
Generating ideas. (7-8 minutes)
Building on ideas. (5-6 minutes)
Conclusion. (rarely comes; ½ - 1 minutes)
Guidelines to be an effective participant of GD

We have to be assertive in order to be heard and seen.
We have to create a chance for ourselves to speak and not wait to get a chance to speak.
We have to put forth our arguments clearly in a logical manner.
We have to be good listeners and also be willing to compliment other participants if they have
given a good point.
If the discussion is going off-track we should bring it back to the mainstream.
We should also keep an eye on the time and try to wind up within the given time.
We should make sure to give a proper conclusion note as this will show our leadership quality
Useful expressions to be used

You are right...but I think ...
With your permission, may I supplement?
May I intervene?
May I add to that - May I Suggest?

There is/ there can be another angle?

While supporting what you said, may I add?
TYPES OF TOPICS USED IN A GROUP DISCUSSION (GD)
1. Controversial GD
Is more argumentative in nature
Checks one's level - headedness
Tests one's ability to evaluate objectively
Tests one's ability to argue one's view point with clarity and maturity
Tests one's ability to analyze dispassionately
Examples of Controversial topics

1. Women are overtaking men in every walk of life.
2. Reservation quota for certain castes in colleges.
3. Religious conversion should be banned
2. Case Study
This is a methodology which encourages the students to learn by giving them simulated real life
situations
Tests one's ability to think in all angles
Checks one‟s ability to grasp the situation
Requires thorough analysis and structured reasoning
Tests one's ability to provide coherent presentation in (probably) a competitive setting
Tests one's ability to arrive at a solution after evaluating its advantages and disadvantages
When presented with a Case Study

a. We should read the situation, ask ourselves different questions regarding the situation, go deep
down to the origin of the problem. Analyze it minutely.
b. We should identify the actual problem
c. We should check out the possible objections or hindrances which would rise
d. We should do the brainstorming and find out various options to the problem.
e. And give our final suggestion and if possible, provide an alternative to fall back on.

Examples of Case Study

1. Rahul is working in a company as an executive. He needs a PR officer and is on the look-out for
one. He has two candidates.
The first candidate, Maran, has all the academic qualifications but is a very emotional man who
quit his job because of a misunderstanding with the management.
The second candidate, Sudhakar, is a very patient and polite man but does not have the necessary
academic skills. His temperament is ideal for the job.
Which candidate should Rahul choose?
2. Shwetha is a Project Manager in a software company. She manages a team of 15 members who
work in shifts 24 hrs a day 7 day a week. Everybody gets 2 days off in a week but there are no
holidays other than that. She has joined recently and her predecessor had promised the team
holidays for Diwali and Pongal.
It is Diwali time and Shwetha is in a fix. If leave is granted, she runs the risk of not only enraging
the management but also of losing a substantial amount of payment for the hours lost from the
American client for whom her team works. However, the team members insist on leave. The
senior members in the team object and say that public holidays were promised at their time of
appointment by Shwetha's predecessor. The entire team is disappointed with her for not giving
them leave but Shwetha has no choice because the contract with the client says that they will have
to work 24 hrs a day and 365 days a week. What should Shwetha do?
3. Rashmi is known for her honesty and loyalty. She is a sincere and committed worker. She is
friendly with her colleague, Natasha. Natasha is flippant and careless. She bends the rules
according to her convenience however she never gets into trouble because she covers up her
mistakes cleverly. Rashmi knows about Natasha's attitude towards work but maintains a cordial
relationship with her.
Their manager, Laxmi, suspects Natasha of being careless and indifferent to her work. She
questions Rashmi about it and tries to probe her for details about Natasha. Rashmi is torn between
her loyalty to the company she works for and the friendship she shares with Natasha.
What should Rashmi do? If she confides about Natasha, Natasha will lose her job. If she doesn‟t
reveal the details, Laxmi will get upset and the company will suffer because of the Natasha‟s
careless work.

TIPS: THERE IS NO RIGHT ANSWER. FOLLOW THE STEPS GIVEN TO YOU TO

ARRIVE AT A SOLUTION.
3. Factual GD
A factual topic requires knowledge of current affairs and events taking place in the world
Revolves around day - to - day topics which are socio-economic in nature.
Tests one's general knowledge as well as interest in current affairs.
Gauges one's sensitivity to and awareness of what is happening in the world.
Tests one's ability to assimilate ideas and facts.
Tests one's ability to form opinions and evaluate others opinions
Content and statistics based
Requires ground work and reading.
Examples of factual GD topics

1. Soaring prices - Gold and Oil
2. India did not win any gold medal in Olympics
4. Abstract GD
Abstract topics are about vague things. We should think abstractly and ultimately link the abstract
with a known fact. These topics test our creativity.
Deals with vague and mysterious topics
Checks the candidates ability to think originally and creatively
Tests one's ability to link such mysterious topics to business and real life situations.
Tests one's ability to think on one's feet
Tests one's capacity to interlink ideas and present them coherently
Suppose the Abstract Topic is “A drop is mightier than the ocean”

a. We should first pick out three aspects related to the topic
Something small is bigger than something big
Importance of small things
Small things lead us to big things
b. Now we should related each of these three aspects to some relevant news that we feel best
matches the aspects
Something small is bigger than something big: The elections – if one person does not vote it
makes a big difference to the overall count

Importance of small things: Small initiatives taken by countries to save the planet e.g. animal
sanctuaries, planting trees, not using plastic, etc
Small things lead us to big things: President Barrack Obama – how he has inspired everyone
by showing that nothing is impossible in this world.
c. Now we should frame the sentences to suit the group discussions based on the three aspects
and the examples.
Examples of Abstract topics

1. Nine is a Number
2. Nothing is impossible
3. Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Mock Group Discussion Topics

Current Topics
1. Is Globalization really necessary?
2. What shall we do about our ever-increasing population?
3. Corruption is the price we pay for Democracy.
4. Foreign television channels are destroying our culture.
5. What India needs is a dictatorship.
6. With media publishing and telecasting trivia, censorship is the need of the hour.
7. Kaun Banega Krorepati is less about knowledge but more about money and personality.
8. Beauty contests degrade womanhood.
9. The rise of regional blocs threatens independent nations like India.
10. Is dependence on computers a good thing?
11. Should the public sector be privatized?
Social Topics
1. Are Big Dams Necessary?
2. Films are corrupting the Indian Youth.
3. A Gandhian states selling liquor is an atrocity.
4. Our culture is decaying.
5. We are not serious about saving Wildlife/Environment.
6. The education system needs serious reforms.
7. The impact of MTV on our society.
8. Showing violence and crimes should not be allowed in films and on television.
9. Let us legalize gambling.

EXERCISES
1. Read the phrases and put them in the correct order to show the different stages of a
presentation
a) This is an important point because…

b) That‟s all for my first topic.
c) Firstly, I‟d like to talk about…
d) I‟d like to illustrate this by showing you this graphic…
e) I‟d now like to conclude by summing up and making recommendations.
f) Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
g) The purpose of this presentation was to…
h) The aim of my presentation today is…
i) The main points I talked about were…
j) The main points I will be talking about are, firstly…
k) Welcome to my presentation.
l) Therefore I recommend…
m) Now I‟d like to invite any questions you may have.
n) The topic of my presentation is…
o) Finally, I‟ll be happy to answer your questions at the end.
2. Prepare and give oral presentation on the following topics
a) The use of torture is never appropriate.

b) Skinny models are setting a bad example for teenagers.
c) Cell phones can be dangerous.
d) Steroids in sports scandals.
e) Ways to control the human population.
3. Speak on any topic given below
1. Demonstrate how something is done (cooking, making a craft, repairing a bicycle, etc.)
2. Persuade us to a certain point of view on a current issue. Use a graph or chart to show supporting
facts or statistics.
3. Teach us the history of a certain event, time period, etc. Use pictures to make your information
more concrete.

4. What qualities are tested in a Group Discussion?

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WORKBOOK

Everonn Education Limited

First Edition: 2010

Published by Everonn Education Limited,

1. Unit 1 – General Language Knowledge ......................................................................... 1

2. Unit 2 – Special Language Knowledge .......................................................................... 6

3. Unit 3 – General Communication Skills ..................................................................... 12

4. Unit 4 – Social Communication Skills ......................................................................... 23

5. Unit 5 – Professional Communication Skills ............................................................. 30

6. Unit 6 – Group Discussion Skills ................................................................................. 39

Unit 1 – General Language

Influence of Mother Tongue

© Everonn Education Ltd 1

My students have forgotten My students have forgotten what I taught

Common Errors in Spoken English

c. The prize will be divided between the three groups.

2 © Everonn Education Ltd

e. I could not able to study with this noise.

g. Please on the fan.

h. I will call you today night.

i. The concerned person is not there

j. "It would have been more better."

k. I want two Xeroxes of this card.

© Everonn Education Ltd 3

l. One of my friend lives in France.

4 © Everonn Education Ltd

connect together connect

© Everonn Education Ltd 5

Unit 2 – Special Language

6 © Everonn Education Ltd

1. What is the meaning of the word "event" as used in the passage?

2. What is the meaning of the word "top" as used in the passage?

Try to answer the questions below without using your dictionary.

© Everonn Education Ltd 7

Answer the following questions according to the text above.

Answer the following questions according to the text above

2. What is the meaning of the word "attraction" as used in line 2?

3. Which word in the passage means sportsmen? ______________

Answer the following question according to the text above

8 © Everonn Education Ltd

© Everonn Education Ltd 9

3. Comparing and contrasting

10 © Everonn Education Ltd

10. Conversation Repair

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Unit 3 – General Communication

The form below will help us prepare for a debate.

What are some facts that support my position?

12 © Everonn Education Ltd

How can I debate this position?

TALKING ABOUT ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

1. Give an introduction to the topic general background information and/or

2. Talk about advantages (3-4 sentences).

3. Discuss disadvantages (3-4 sentences).

4. Give the conclusion, by giving an opinion or a recommendation

List of topics for discussing advantages and disadvantages

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad?

© Everonn Education Ltd 13

14 © Everonn Education Ltd

8. Advance planning can avoid total destruction of an ancient historical site.

III. What is the meaning of the words in CAPITAL letters

2. Rahul feels that even old dogs are TRAINABLE

7. Uncle Scrooge is known for his MISERLY ways

© Everonn Education Ltd 15