Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Effective Speaking Skills
Teaching staff
For convenience on previous appointment.
Introduction
Being heard in a world full of noise is the real challenge.
Today, the amount of information does nothing but increase, ensuring an adequate mastery of communication skills is imperative.
This is a course that combines technical / theoretical and practical aspects with the objective of increasing the student's communicational capacity, both verbal and non-verbal.
In this course, the teacher-student agreement implies student's commitment in his own personal development. The maximum level to reach is defined by the student.
Pre-course requirements
The required profile to enroll in this subject will be determined by the Academic Regulations of the center and by the Faculty of Communication in accordance with the general plans for each grade.
Objectives
The main objective is to increase the communicative capacity of the student, both verbal and non-verbal.
We are going to work on:
• To identify what is the value information for the target and how to present it
• To identify the relational impact of communication
• To know your own skills and identify opportunities for improvement
And to increase the impact of communication:
• Increase public speaking skills
• Improve the presentation and quality of written documents
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 04 - The ability of self assessment and professional self management
- 05 - The ability to learn autonomously
- 06 - The ability to act autonomously and responsibly
- 09 - Lingustic ability in Catalan, Spanish and English
- 12 - The ability to produce spoken and written texts
- 13 - Reading skills
- 14 - Ability to analyse
- 15 - The ability to synthesise
- 20 - The ability of concretion
- 97 - To be able to read and understand literature in the field of communication in the English language
- 98 - To skillfully manage terminology in English related to Communication
- 99 - To be able to understand the principal ideas in a conference in the English language
Learning outcomes of the subject
Specific objectives of the Communications - define their objectives and then the most effective methods of delivery
• The communication process - to understand the process of six steps.
• Tools - foundation to set the stage for successful communication, one by one and with groups.
• The barriers to effective communication - identify and develop methods to break these barriers.
• Communication skills - Learn how to combine the four key elements and the five basic skills to communicate with an impact.
• Influence techniques - expand communication skills, use of techniques and strategies to influence other behaviors and develop more collaborative work relationships.
• Planning a communication strategy - identify your communication result and plan the best approach to achieving positive results.
• Face to face and virtual facilitation / meetings Communication skills - learn to communicate and facilitate effective group interactions.
Syllabus
- Brief review of the different authors that contribute to the human communication model, as we know it today.
- Communication structure:
- Sequencing, objectives and applications.
- Written communication:
- Keys, rules, uses and customs in the workplace
- Creation of impacting messages
- Presentation and rules of etiquette
- Oral communication:
- Public speaking skills (one-to-many)
- Tips to increase the impact and credibility
- Tips to generate participation in the audience
- Support of presentations and grants
- Ability to present arguments (one-to-one, one-to-many)
- Bases to negotiate from the communication
- Non-verbal communication:
- Analysis of own and other nonverbal communication
- Environment and physical characteristics of the person
- Proxemics
- Gestures, postures and microexpressions
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The methodology and training activities include:
Master classes:
Where the teacher will make available to students concepts, tools and suggestions that cover the content of the subject and help them achieve the learning results.
Autonomous work:
Where the student must solve tasks, deliver assignments and prepare classes to ensure adequate levels of participation in class.
Exercises, dynamics and role play:
In groups, students will solve exercises, participate in dynamics and even pretend to be someone else in role plays, to bring the student closer to real situations in which they have to apply their knowledge and practices. For example, preparation and presentation of a project / proposal to a boss / client, team meetings, negotiation simulation, peer-to-peer evaluations, etc.
Presentations in public:
Individual and in groups on current topics and related to the area of study of the degree or not, to give the student the opportunity to put themselves in different situations, and gain ability and confidence in solving them.
Workshops and presentations of experts:
Thematic workshops will be held to deepen knowledge in a specific area and presentations of experts who can provide knowledge and experience, contributing to the enrichment of students.
Class attendance is required by the institution, but in any case, essential to achieve the objectives of the subject.
Participation is key to the development of competencies.
| TRAINING ACTIVITY | ECTS CREDITS |
| Coaching. Monitoring how students learn the content of the subject, either individually or in groups. In the coaching sessions, mistakes will be corrected, queries answered, and exercises and activities to achieve the established objectives will be suggested. | 1.2 |
| Seminar. This activity will consist of taking an in-depth look at specific up-to-date topics in a monographic manner-in some cases these topics will have been debated socially-, via active work in small groups. | 1.2 |
| Practical workshop. A highly practical working activity, where students can acquire skills that are practical or also theoretical (intellectual skills, logical skills, critical skills, intellectual learning skills, study skills, quoting skills, etc). | 1.2 |
| Lectures. In lectures, lecturers/professors not only transmit content or knowledge, but also, and above all else, attitudes, motivation, skills and values, etc. They also ensure that participants can express their opinions and arguments to the other students. | 2.4 |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Continuous evaluation 30% - participation in class, attendance, presentation of works, resolution of exercises, etc.
Partial evaluations 30% - tests, oral presentations and partial exams on theoretical contents and their application.
Final exam 40% - Final oral presentation (1st & 2nd call).
3rd call: Task including all the content of the subject. To define by the teacher the method of delivery and type of work (report, video, etc.).
Bibliography and resources
Alder, R B., J M. Elmhorst, and K Lucas. Communicating at Work: Strategies for Success in Business and the Professions w/ CONNECT online access code. 11th ed. McGraw Hill Companies Inc, 2013.
Kahane, A. Solving Tough Problems: An Open Way of Talking, Listening and Creating New Realities. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc, 2007.
Knapp, M. L. & Hall, J. A. (2010). Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction (vª Ed.) Boston: Cengage Learning. [Parcialmente disponible en http://books.google.com, obtenido el 15 de Enero de 2018].
Llacuna, J. (n.d.). Comunicación Interpersonal: el efecto Palo Alto. [Disponible en http://www.jmcprl.net/NTPs/@Datos/Ntp_312.htm, obtenida el 15 de Enero de 2018].
Pease, A. (1997). El lenguaje del cuerpo (8ª ed.). Barcelona: Paidós.
Ramon-Cortés, F. (2005). La isla de los 5 faros. Un recorrido por las claves de la comunicación. Barcelona: RBA Integral.
Sorenson, S. (2009). Webster’s New World, Student writing Handbook. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, Inc. [Parcialmente disponible en http://books.google.com obtenido el 15 de Enero de 2018].
Watzlawick, P. Beavin, J. & Jackson, D. (1989). Teoría de la comunicación humana (Séptima edición). Barcelona: Herder.
Watzlawick, P. Beavin, J. & Jackson, D. (2011). Pragmatics of Human Communication. New York / London: W. W. Norton & Company. Inc.