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COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY IN SPOKEN ENGLISH IN SELECTED SOCIAL CONTEXTS. 1.0 1.1 Introduction. Importance of speaking English for study and work purpose

Today, everyone recognizes the importance of learning the English Language. The ability to speak and write English properly allows people to advance in the professional world. Being able to speak in English also widens ones horizon in communicating globally. A proof of the necessity of learning English is the proliferation of websites that offers English lessons online. Another proof is the increasing number of people who prefer this medium of learning everyday. Why is learning English important to everyone in the modern day world ? Most people study English for work. Businesses worldwide use English as the universal language and medium of communication. To be able to either immigrate or work in English speaking continents like the US, Europe and Australia, one must pass examinations such as IELTS. This is also true if one want to enter a foreign school or university. But even outside the professional world, being able to communicate properly in English allows the ability to portray oneself better. This ability results to gaining better acceptance and understanding as well as respect from other people.

1.2

Basic principles of effective speaking and listening skills

As human beings, we use our senses to learn what is going on in the world around us. In ancient times, a persons survival depended upon being able to hear and see many dangers in the environment. Our other senses of taste, touch, and smell also helped people to survive. Most people think that sight is the most important sense. Early humans would have run into terrible danger without their sense of sight. Even today, it is hard for

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anyone to imagine how they could survive without their sense of sight. However, with the days of hunting and gathering a time of the past, todays survival skills are very different. Today, communication is one of mans most important skills, and communication depends on the sense of hearing. Todays survival skills are very different. When we are communicating by visual means, such as writing or typing, we are still using the language that most of us first learned by hearing before we were even out of the womb.

Listening, though it may seem similar to hearing, is however, different in that it entails perceiving and understanding the message that was heard. Listening involves the use of a persons sense of sight and hearing. Effective listening, therefore, involves the process by which a person understands, interprets, and analyzes the information received through hearing. It is an active process that is learned through time. Active listening skills are not only useful in understanding verbal speech, but also enable a person to derive a conclusion from the speakers body language. The ability to listen is essential for success in all relationships. Effective listening skills involve a person paying full attention to the speaker, and having the ability to ignore all eternal distractions.

1.3

Various forms of oral communication in English

Oral communications has been described as the process of people using verbal and non verbal message to generate meanings within and across various contexts, cultures, channels and medias. It encompasses various sets of skills including the ability te speak coherently and persuasively, understanding of communication theory and processes, knowledge of verbal and non verbal cues, audients analysis, listening skills as well as communication ethics. There are seven forms that oral communication often takes.  Intrapersonal communication  Interpersonal communication  Small group communication  Public communication 2

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 Mass communication  Corporate communication  Intercultural communication 2.0 2.1 Process of Oral Communication. Theories of oral communication

Communication theory has been highly debatable topic, with many theorists developing different methods and models of communication. Varying from the simplistic to the

overly complex, the analysis of communication models is becoming more and more frequent, not to mention popular within academics. Two particular models are Shannon and Weavers model and George Garners model of communication, two similar and yet very different methods of calculating the theory of communication.

Shannon and Weavers theory of communication relies mainly upon Mathematics and it is widely accepted as one of the pioneering studies out of which the communication theory has grown (Fisk, 1990). This model is one of the most basic yet efficient and its main concern is with the physical process of transmitting messages. Having generated their theory during WW2, Shannon & Weavers main goal was efficiency, especially being efficient in sending large amounts of information along a channel and how to measure the capacity of any given channel (although at the time they mainly focused on telephone cables and radio waves, it is claimed that their theory and model can be applied to any form of communication).

This model is easy to understand and is very simplistic. An event happens and so in turn becomes the information source. This information is then sent out on a The

transmitter, whether it is radio waves, cables or even just a persons mouth.

transmitter then sends a signal through a channel where is it received and passed to a receiver, say a telephone handset, and then the destination is the person on the other end of the phone line hearing the message, or the viewing the television or listening to another person. The noise inclusion is to make up for any noise that is sent through to 3

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the receiver without the sender intending for those sounds to be incorporated into that information source this can be such things.

2.2

The transactional model of oral communication.

There are three different models of communication, which are the linear model, the interactive model and the transactional model. Each have their own strength and weaknesses. But we will be focusing on the transactional model only. The transactional model does not acknowledge neither the speaker or consumer, where both are known as communicator. The transactional model compliments face to face communication. It is also an ongoing or continuous process. Whats unique about this model is, each person reacts according to the situation they are facing. There are three implications in the transactional model: i. Transactional means that communication is an ongoing and continuously changing process. You are changing, the people with whom you are communicating are changing, and your environment is also continually changing as well. ii. In any transactional process, each element exists in relation to all the other elements. There is this interdependence where there can be no source without a receiver and no message without a source. iii. Each person process in the reacts

communication

depending on factors such as their background, prior experiences,

attitudes, cultural beliefs and selfesteem.

Figure 1.5: A transactional model of communication Source: Wood, J. T. (2009). Communication in our lives (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson-Wadsworth.

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3.0 3.1

Interpersonal communication Person and impersonal situations

Everybody has a choice as to whether they communicate through their personal or impersonal channels. Everyone needs to know how to use each one at different times. Its equally important to know when not to use each channel. We usually switch automatically and this can lead to problems or we can get stuck on one channel not knowing how to switch to the other. Learning to use both channels consciously is not difficult. There are only a few things to be aware of. The main awareness is just being able to recognize whether you (and the other person, or both of you) are using impersonal or personal channels. From there it's largely just a matter of practice, lots of practice, choosing the right channel for each occasion and consciously making the switch. Being able to choose your channel is a great help when you want to: y y connect more closely with other human beings avoid connecting when you don't want to get too close (even if the other person wants to). y protect yourself from abuse, manipulation, or negativity coming from other people who are trying to control you. Impersonal selves Impersonal is more protected but less connected There are lots of inner selves like super-responsible pusher and the logical mind who work at the impersonal level. They are the ones that allow a wide range of safe communication ranging from distant and formal to a kind of impersonal linking involving trust, yet maintaining the ability to draw back as much as needed should things get too close. When you are under the influence of an impersonal self, you will feel more protected because it helps you maintain a safer distance and better separation from other people.

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Personal selves Personal is more connected but less protected The opposite kind of selves operate at the personal level. This allows a much closer connection. Almost all the personal inner selves permit or even encourage warm interaction and more intimate communication. When two people are both operating under the influence of these most intimate of the personal selves they will find they can get incredibly close to each other. For many individuals this is what they experience as love or intimacy but it may only be the personal selves at work. There is a downside to operating in a very personal state. Sooner or later something goes wrong and because of your closeness you are extremely vulnerable. The trouble with personal selves is that they lack the strength (or the boundaries) to protect your vulnerability. Section 7 explains more about boundaries as part of the aware adult system. If you have no boundaries, your only protection is to return control to the impersonal selves that specialize in distancing, criticism, anger, shaming, blaming, punishing and aggression. This, of course, causes the other person to withdraw. These selves may try to appear as if they are boundaries and so distract attention away from boundary issues but actually they just set up walls that block or even destroy a relationship if it seems to be causing too much pain.

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3.2

Speaking Skills and Strategies Having good speaking skills is important for todays society. Communication

continues to thrive in all aspects of life. Therefore, one should develop speaking skills. Speech strategies can include a variety of things. In addition, knowing when to use correct speech during certain situation is important. Focusing on speech is important for developing speaking skills. This includes tonality, expression, emphasis, and so on. The idea is to speak in a way that is most adaptable to a situation. For instance, when giving a public speech, it is good to focus on the words as well as speaking loud enough for the audience. Pronunciation is also very important and can save potential embarrassment. When speaking to another, it is important to clarify at times. Sometimes other people misconstrue what we are trying to say. In addition, they may misunderstand or not fully pay attention to us. Responding to environment cues is important in these cases. Clarifying what we are saying is good for speaking skills. The idea is to be as understanding and responsive as possible to make others feel that they are being heard. When dealing with situations, it is good to know how to respond to them via our speaking skills. This can include formal greetings, public speeches, talking to a small group, one to one conversation, and so on. We have to adjust to the situation at hand many times. As a result, we can change our speaking methodologies to fit the situation. Speaking is one of the most basic functions of our lives. We all learn to communicate with one another through various means. Developing our speaking skills is important such that we can better communicate with others. Speaking has great influence. Great speeches are usually admirable and have a long lasting effect. Therefore, having the speaking skills to influence others for the better is good to obtain.

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4.0 4.1

Small Group Communication Description of functions

A small group can be either a task group of a peer group that is formed with at least three but usually no more than twenty individuals. Two people however are considered a dyad, rather than a small group. These individuals share a common purpose, a common goal. In order to be considered a small group, it is required that every group member have a sense of every other members co-presence. At a minimum then, members of a small group are aware of every other individual in the group; they are all a part of each others present reality. Small groups must have boundaries; once boundaries are formed they serve as parameters you stay within and do not cross within a group. Once this happens, members are perceived as a coherent social unit; the group is a defined entity. Another characteristic of a small group is coherence; this is the idea that you can identify the boundaries in a group (uniforms or meeting locations are an example of this).

Small groups are characterized by members interdependence upon one another; they share tasks and rely on one another. Group members also share a mutual sense of belonging to the group and must have regular member interaction of some form (meetings, e-mail, etc.).

4.2

How small group communication is organized Small group leadership and membership skills are the skills required to achieve

the best results from team meetings. Skill in meetings can be divided into two areas, `leadership' and `membership'. These are the two major roles people play in groups. A group must have an appointed leader to coordinate its activity, and this person's leadership ability is critical to how well the group will work together. But equally important are the membership abilities of the others who make up the group. Membership 8

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ability is the ability to be part of a group so that your contributions are always positive, and so that you also help others to contribute in the best possible way. Group leadership and membership skills are covered together here for a number of reasons: y most people are, at various times, both leaders and members of small groups, so they need both leadership and membership skills y y the same issues of personal interaction arise for both leaders and members a group will not work well unless both leadership and membership are handled competently 4.3 Examples of Small Groups communication in different social contexts 4.3.1 Silent Reflection This is where you give students a few minutes to think about a problem or issue. Ask them to write down their thoughts or ideas on a note pad. Keep the task specific.

4.3.2 Rounds Where groups are not too large (20 or so) go around everyone in the group and ask them to respond. People often use rounds as icebreakers or as part of the winding-up of a session. Try not to make the round too daunting by giving students guidance on what is expected of them.

4.3.3 Three Minutes Each Way Ask students in pairs to speak for three minutes on a given topic. Be strict with timekeeping. Your students might find this quite difficult at first, but it is an excellent way of getting students to articulate their ideas, and also

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means that the quieter students are given opportunities to speak and be heard.

4.3.4 Buzz Groups Give pairs, threes, fours or fives small timed tasks which involve them talking to each other, creating a hubbub of noise as they work. Their outcomes can then be shared with the whole group through feedback, on a flip chart sheet poster, overhead projector transparency or otherwise as appropriate.

4.3.4 Brainstorms This can be a valuable way of stimulating creative free-thinking and is particularly useful when looking for a solution to a problem or in generating diverse ideas. Start with a question like "How can we..?" or "What do we know about ... ?" and encourage the group to call out ideas as fast as you can write them up (perhaps use two scribes on separate boards if the brainstorm flows well).

4.3.5 Syndicates This is the term used to describe activities undertaken by groups of students working to a brief under their own direction. They can be asked to undertake internet or literature searches, debate an issue, explore a piece of text, prepare an argument, design an artefact or many other tasks. To achieve productively, they will need an explicit brief, appropriate resources and clear outcomes.

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4.3.6 Snowballing (Also Known As Pyramiding) Start by giving students an individual task of a fairly simple nature such as listing features, noting questions, identifying problems, summarizing the main points of their last lecture. Then ask them to work in pairs on a slightly more complex

task, such as prioritizing issues or suggesting strategies. Thirdly, ask them to come together in larger groups, fours or sixes for example and undertake a task involving, perhaps, synthesis, assimilation or evaluation. Ask them to draw up guidelines, perhaps, or produce an action plan or to assess the impact of a particular course of action. They can then feed back to the whole group if required. You may also wish to try reverse pyramiding.

4.3.8 Fishbowls Ask for a small group of up to half a dozen or so volunteers to sit in the middle of a larger circle comprising the rest of the group. Give them a task to undertake that involves discussion, with the group around the outside acting as observers. Make the task you give the inner circle sufficiently simple in the first instance to give them the confidence to get started. This can be enhanced once students have had practice and become more confident.

5.0

Public communication ( public speaking ) Public communication, also known as public speaking, involves communication between a speaker and an audience. This audience may range from just a few people to thousands or even millions of people. The aim of the speaker is usually to inform or to persuade the audience to act, buy, or think in a certain way. A teacher may address an assembly of students on codes of behaviour or school rules. A politician may make speeches on how he will be dealing with certain issues in order to win their votes. An executive may give a business

presentation to get more sales. It is important to understand some of the basic principles of effective public speaking so that you are able to influence, persuade as well as entertain your audience when you communicate with them. 11

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6.0

Conclusion English Language as a universal language is used as a medium to communicate all over the world. Communicating effectively in spoken English in selected social contexts is very crucial and plays an important role in comprehending a message conveyed as communication is considered as the most important skills in mans daily life. Various form of communications are used in verbal or non verbal messages to generate meanings across various contexts, cultures, channels and medias. Good speaking skills and strategies has great influence for good communication to last effectively

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REFERENCES

1.

S Sivagnanachelvi, Dr Chong Poh Wan, Chua Eok Keng & Cik Norazlina Mohamad.( 2010 ).English for Oral Communication: (Eleven Printing). Seri Kembangan: Meteor Doc. Sdn. Bhd.

2.

Devito, J.A. ( 2009 ). Human communication: the Basic course. Boston, USA: Pearson Education.

3.

http://www.love-yourinnerchild.com/RELATIONSHIPS_CHOOSING_BEWTEEN_PERSONAL_IMP ERSONAL_CHANNELS.htm http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Communication-Theory/155032 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WxVNZxh_fM&feature=player_embedded

4. 5.

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