Communication Strategies 25 Specific skills: Review

Young woman looking through telescope on an observatory deck

Looking back one last time

Image Credit
James Frid via Pexels

This is a review of the final 4 lessons in this course, covering delivery and quick wins.

Introduction

In this final review lesson, you will recall the previous four lessons and have the chance to practice each of the skills one more time.

Warm Up

Recall the previous four lessons. Which was the easiest? Which was the most difficult?

Here's an overview of the last four lessons: 

  • CS 21: Using gestures and body language.
  • CS 22: Idioms and natural expressions. 
  • CS 23: Sophisticated intonation.
  • CS 24: Sophisticated grammar patterns.

Use their attitude to gauge their confidence. Some students may feel that every lesson was difficult, while others may feel that they were all easy. If they seem under-confident, then encourage them to use what they can, and scaffold the practice section. If they seem over-confident, remind them:

There is a big difference between understanding the strategy and using it. All speaking tests are about output, so it's necessary to use these strategies well. 

NOTE: If a lesson was difficult for them, you can return to it for more practice.

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Scaffolding

The term scaffolding refers to a process of teaching. There are 3 steps in the scaffolding process:

  1. The teacher models and/or demonstrates how to solve a problem for their student.
  2. The teacher lets the student try to solve the problem themselves by taking a step back and only giving support when needed.
  3. The student is able to solve the problem on their own.

Scaffolding is sometimes described as, "I do. We do. You do."

Practice

Use the skills you learned in each lesson to answer the questions.

CS 21 Using gestures and body language

What kind of gestures and body language did you learn? Gestures for:

  1. thinking time at the beginning of the question (the cheek tap, chin scratch, lean back, or look up and frown);
  2. emphasis on your key point (make eye contact and use strong gestures);
  3. showing uncertainty (the shrug, or using open hands);
  4. making an analogy (gesture to one side, then the other); and
  5. counting (count up, starting with your index finger or thumb). 

Question: 

Describe the best party you have been to.

 

CS 22 Idioms and natural expressions

Here are two of the easiest to use. If you want more practice, review lesson 22: 

  1. Well, off the top of my head, I'd say…
  2. In a nutshell…

Question:

In an "ideal" world, would everybody work, or nobody work?

 

CS 23 Sophisticated intonation

Two patterns were practiced: 

  1. Making a list with rising and falling tones, e.g.,
    • "Food in Paris is amazing, and there's a lot of variety. You can find good Chinese↗, Italian↗, Indian↗, and of course French↘."
  2. Comparing positives and negatives by stressing the auxiliary verb, e.g.,
    • "My hometown might not be cheap, but it is a fun city!" 

Question:

What is the most amazing thing about the human brain?

 

CS 24 Sophisticated grammar patterns 

Two patterns were practiced : 

  1. The future perfect continuous, e.g., "Next year, I will have been working for my company for 5 years."
  2. The third conditional: "If I hadn't taken lessons here, I wouldn't have met you!"

Question:

Some people think that facing challenges improves a person. Do you agree or disagree?