Transcript Functional Skills June 2010

Functional Skills
English
Functional Skills English
Functional skills in English are:
‘the core elements of English…that provide an individual with the
essential knowledge, skills, understanding that will enable them
to operate confidently effectively and independently in life and at
work.’
In plain English, Functional Skills are all about developing skills that will
help you in all areas of life, whether that’s in education, in your social life
or in the world of work.
Functional Skills English
How can functional Skills help me in the world of work?
Employers are looking for people who can:
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communicate clearly
take and pass on messages
manage customers effectively
read and understand a wide range of documents
write fluently, accurately, using accepted business conventions of format, spelling, grammar and
punctuation
Functional Skills English (Level 1 and 2):
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Speaking, Listening and Communicating - 2 discussions (formal/ informal)
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Reading
•
Writing
Aims & Objectives
Aim:
To develop the learners knowledge and understanding of Speaking, Listening
and Communicating Skills for Functional Skills.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the sessions, the learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of why oral communication skills are
important
- Explain the differences between a good speaker and a good listener
- Indentify your own strengths and weaknesses
- Describe non verbal means of communication and understand how body
language and vocal tone impact on our communication.
- Identify the differences between facts and opinions
Functional Skills : Speaking & Listening
The Importance of Being Eloquent
In this Functional Skills unit we will be working on our speaking
and listening abilities and exploring the importance of oral
communication in the modern world. Effective speaking and
listening skills are considered one of the most valued skills by
employers.
Why speaking & Listening?
Why are oral communication skills important?
Good
communication
skills
Write down as many ideas as you can.
Why speaking & Listening?
Be an
effective
team player
Avoid
conflicts
Build
relationships
explain
things clearly
Good
communication
skills
Talk to a
diverse range
of people
Deal with
customers
effectively
Communication Competence
Let’s think about what you need to be a good
communicator.
In pairs jot down a few notes about:
• what makes a good speaker?
• what makes a good listener?
It may help to think of someone who you consider
to be a ‘good listener’ and then to explain why.
Feedback your ideas to the rest of the group.
•Listen carefully to the discussion and contribute some ideas of your own.
•What skills or attributes do you have that make you a good
communicator?
•What could you do to improve?
Complete this survey to assess your skills
Skills description
I am good at following instructions
I can speak clearly and confidently
I get on well with new people
I can vary my speech to engage different listeners
I can explain ideas effectively to others
I pay close attention when someone talks to me
I can listen to others’ opinions and build on them
In a discussion I know when it is appropriate to talk and when to listen
Before I talk I think about what I will say
I know how to disagree in a polite way
Agree
Unsure
Disagree
Take a moment to reflect on the results and
consider what your oral communication
strengths and weaknesses are. Try to
improve on your weaker areas as we work
through the unit.
Effective Speaking and listening employs a wide
range of skills. It involves:
• making relevant contributions to
discussions
•responding appropriately to others
•being polite and ‘well mannered’
and being able to communicate clearly and in
appropriate language to a diverse range of
individuals in both formal and informal
situations
Communication Breakdown
In this section, the aim is to introduce non verbal means of communication
and also to analyse how body language and vocal tone impact on our
communication.
Non Verbal Communication
What do we mean by non-verbal communication?
Non verbal
communication
Write down as many ideas and/or examples as you can.
Non verbal communication
Why are oral communication skills important?
Head, hand
and eye
movements
Facial
expressions
posture
Non verbal
communication
gestures
Proximity
Body contact
Body Language
Only a small percentage of communication (7%) involves actual words, 55% of
communication is visual (body language, eye contact).
The best communicators have effective body language: a strong presence that
reflects confidence, competence, and charisma.
Actions speak louder than words, your posture, facial expressions and gestures
can say an awful lot about how a person is feeling.
Look at the images below. What does the body language of each person reveal?
Vocal Tone
We said that only 7% of communication involves actual words and that a huge
55% of communication is visual, but that only makes up 62% of communication.
So what makes up the rest?
The remaining 38% of communication is vocal (pitch, speed, volume, tone of
voice). A person’s tone of voice carries as much, if not more, meaning than the
words themselves and tone of voice plays a huge part when we are talking on
the telephone and cannot see the other person.
The same word or phrase spoken in a different tone of voice can change its
meaning entirely. In pairs try saying the following things in different vocal
tones and consider how the meaning of the words and phrases change:
“That’s really exciting.”
“Can I help you?”
“I’m so happy for you.”
“Sarah.”
Affects
Remember that you are using these devices to affect the listener.
Think about what you’re trying to do…
Using facts and opinions
What are facts and opinions?
Fact: A fact is something that can be shown to be true and often there is
evidence to prove it.
For example: London is the capital city of England
Opinion: An opinion is a personal view about an issue.
For example: Paris is the world’s most beautiful city.
Fact and Opinion
Are the following statements opinions or facts?
1. Testing on animals is wrong and should be
banned.
2. The UK has a population of 60 million
people.
3. Rome is a more romantic city than Venice.
Fact and Opinion
Are the following statements opinions or facts?
1. Testing on animals is wrong and should be
banned. Opinion
2. The UK has a population of 60 million
people. Fact
3. Rome is a more romantic city than Venice.
Opinion
Fact and Opinion
Read the extract below. Highlight the facts in one
colour and the opinions in another.
Manchester - The first modern city
In the 18th century Manchester was the cotton making capital of the world.
The city was one of the breeding grounds of the industrial revolution and its
entrepreneurs and industrial tycoons endowed it with museums, galleries,
theatres and libraries as well as outstanding civic architecture.
A devastating IRA bomb in 1996 created the need for city centre
regeneration resulting in a new, dramatic 21st century cityscape.
Manchester is an innovative music city producing influential groups such as
Joy Division, The Smiths, Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses and Oasis.
Central Manchester has a population of about 440,000 in a Greater
Metropolitan Area of more than 2 million.
Fact and Opinion
Copy and complete the table below:
Fact or
Opinion
Evidence
Fact
Central Manchester has a
population of about 440,000
Opinion
Manchester is an innovative
music city
Fact
Opinion
Intended affect on audience
The author uses specific facts and
figures to convey detailed knowledge
of the subject.
Functional Skills Speaking &
Listening Assessment Criteria
Read the success criteria below. It will give you an idea of what you need to
do to achieve a specific level for Speaking and Listening Functional Skills.
Level 1
When listening,
talking and
discussing in familiar
situations connected
with education,
training, work and
social roles.
can you understand the main points of short explanations and
listen for specific information?
can you follow instructions?
can you respond appropriately to comments and requests?
can you make contributions clearly, to be heard and understood?
Can you ask questions using appropriate terms and obtain specific
information?
Assessment Criteria
Read the success criteria below. It will give you an idea of what you need to do to achieve a
level for Speaking and Listening Functional Skills.
Level 2
When listening,
talking and
discussing in
familiar
situations
connected with
education,
training, work
and social
roles.
can you listen for and identify the main points of short explanations and
instructions? (recognising impact of volume, gesture, repetition or
summary confirming points)
can you speak clearly to be heard and understood? (pace delivery and
register responses)
can you express simply your own feelings and opinions and understand
those expressed by others? (understand body language and tone)
can you express clear statements of fact, short accounts and
descriptions? (provide key information; report incidents or activities)
can you ask and respond to straightforward questions? (recognise when
further clarity is required)
can you follow detailed discussions and make appropriate contributions?
(understand the tempo of a discussion, body language and tone and
when to intervene)
Assessment Criteria
Read the success criteria. It will give you an idea of what you need to do to
achieve a specific level for Speaking and Listening Functional Skills.
Level 2
can you use techniques to clarify and confirm understanding?
(words of agreement, confirmation, rephrasing, non verbal
signs, gestures etc.)
In familiar
formal and
give your own point of view and listen to and respond
informal
appropriately to others’ P-O-V. (clear, audible contribution,
exchanges and
appropriately paced, body language)
discussions
can you use formal and informal language as appropriate?
(different responses/perceptions depending on the situation)
can you follow the more detailed points of a discussion and
make relevant contributions, respecting others, turn-taking
rights? (support fairness and balance representation in group
participation.)
Any
Questions?