Employability skills
Revision Notes
Unit 1: Communication Skills
Session 1: Methods of Communication
1. Definition of Communication: Sharing information effectively is a vital life skill.
2. Communication Process: Includes transmitting, listening, and feedback.
3. Elements of Communication:
○ Sender
○ Message
○ Channel
○ Receiver
○ Feedback
4.
5. Methods of Communication:
○ Face-to-face communication
○ Email
○ Notices/Posters
○ Business Meetings
○ Other methods like social networks, phone calls, newsletters, blogs, etc.
6.
7. Choosing the Right Method: Depends on target audience, costs, type of
information, and urgency.
Session 2: Verbal Communication
1. Types of Verbal Communication:
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○ Interpersonal Communication
○ Written Communication
○ Small Group Communication
○ Public Communication
2.
3. Advantages: Easy exchange of ideas and quick response.
4. Disadvantages: Meanings can be confusing if the right words are not used.
5. Tips for Mastering Verbal Communication:
○ Think before you speak.
○ Be concise and clear.
○ Show confidence and use appropriate body language.
6.
Session 3: Non-verbal Communication
1. Definition: Communication without spoken or written words, using gestures,
expressions, postures, touch, space, eye contact, and paralanguage.
2. Importance: 93% of communication is non-verbal.
3. Types of Non-verbal Communication:
○ Facial expressions
○ Posture
○ Gestures
○ Touch
○ Space
○ Eye contact
○ Paralanguage
4.
5. Visual Communication: Exchanging information through images or pictures.
Session 4: Communication Cycle and Importance of Feedback
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1. Feedback: Acknowledgment and response from the receiver to the sender.
2. Types of Feedback:
○ Positive Feedback
○ Negative Feedback
○ No Feedback
3.
4. Importance of Feedback:
○ Validates effective listening.
○ Motivates and boosts learning.
○ Improves performance.
5.
Session 5: Barriers to Effective Communication
1. 7 Cs of Effective Communication:
○ Clear, Concise, Concrete, Correct, Coherent, Complete, Courteous.
2.
3. Barriers to Communication:
○ Physical Barriers
○ Linguistic Barriers
○ Interpersonal Barriers
○ Organisational Barriers
○ Cultural Barriers
4.
5. Ways to Overcome Barriers:
○ Use simple language.
○ Avoid assumptions based on culture or geography.
○ Communicate in person when possible.
○ Use visuals and translators.
○ Respect others' opinions.
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6.
Session 6: Writing Skills — Parts of Speech
1. Parts of Speech:
○ Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs.
2.
3. Supporting Parts of Speech:
○ Articles, Conjunctions, Prepositions, Interjections.
4.
5. Capitalisation Rules: Titles, 'I', Names, Starting letter of sentences.
6. Punctuation Marks: Full stop, comma, question mark, exclamation mark,
apostrophe.
Session 7: Writing Skills — Sentences
1. Parts of a Sentence:
○ Subject, Verb, Object (Direct and Indirect).
2.
3. Types of Sentences:
○ Declarative, Interrogative, Exclamatory, Imperative.
4.
5. Active and Passive Voice:
○ Active: Subject performs the action.
○ Passive: Subject receives the action.
6.
7. Paragraphs: Group of sentences with a common idea or theme.
Key Takeaways
● Communication involves verbal, non-verbal, and visual methods.
● Effective communication requires clarity, conciseness, and feedback.
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● Barriers to communication can be overcome with simple strategies.
● Writing skills, including proper use of parts of speech, punctuation, and sentence
structure, are essential for clear communication.
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