Listening Comprehension

At this stage, we will explore the fascinating world of oral communication, summarising and the use of subject and verb. We will begin by focusing on oral language, aiming to help you recognise the various purposes behind different forms of spoken communication.

Understanding why we speak in certain ways can enhance your ability to engage or interact effectively with others. Next, we’ll move on to our reading segment, where you will learn to apply diverse or different strategies for summarising texts of various lengths and difficult levels. This skill is essential for grasping or understanding Key Ideas and conveying information succinctly or briefly. Finally, we will move into grammar, specifically analysing the appropriate use of subjects and verbs in everyday communication. Mastering this aspect of grammar will not only improve your writing skills but also enhance your spoken language skills. The lessons, all together, will empower you to become more effective in communication, both in speech and writing.

Let’s get started!

Key Ideas

• Oral Communication is the act of verbally transmitting or sharing information and ideas or concepts from one individual or group to another.

• Oral narrative refers to the act of telling stories or giving accounts of an event face to face through spoken language

• Strategies is a plan of actions that is applied or carried out in order to achieve a specific goal.

• Summary is the process of reducing a text or an information to only the main ideas.

The Purposes of Varied Oral Communication

Previous lessons on oral language covered English sounds and how they translate into speech or words. Our lesson for this section on oral language, will delve into Oral Communication and its purposes.

Oral Communication

_(Oral) Communication is the process of sharing or exchanging information or ideas through spoken words. It can take place through face-to-face interactions or electronic tools such as phone, video platform or radio. It can take many forms, including conversations, speeches, discussions, presentations, and debates. Effective oral communication requires not only clear articulation of thoughts or ideas but also active listening as well as the ability to engage with the audience for feedback. Oral communication varies from culture to culture and person to person or group to group.

No matter how it varies, the intentions of the speaker must be made very clear to avoid miscommunication. Miscommunication arises when the intended meaning of the message is not conveyed properly between the speaker and the listener or audience.

Let us now look at the key components that can make oral communication effective.

Key Components of Oral Communication

There are key components or features of oral communication that help to make the message more meaningful. These components are discussed below. Read through them thoughtfully and reflect on how they impact oral communication.

Figure 11.1: Key components of oral communication You have done well! It is time to work together with your friends or classmates to examine the pictures below carefully and perform the activity that follows them. Enjoy this moment!

Figure 11.2: A picture describing oral communication We have just examined a picture of oral communication. The picture displayed both the medium and the settings or forms in which oral communication can occur. You are encouraged to observe the pictures once more and perform the activity below.

Activity 11.1 Making an Oral Presentation

Pair with your friend or classmate to identify the two main media of oral communication displayed in the pictures above and the various ways they can occur. Make an oral presentation to your class for feedback. Good luck!

Media and Methods of Oral Communication

Oral communication can basically occur through two media, and they include face- to-face interaction and electronic interaction. Face-to-face interaction involves direct exchange of information or message verbally between a speaker and a listener, using not only spoken words but also non-verbal cues such as body language and facial expressions. An example of face-to-face interaction is of a prefect making an announcement during morning assembly. On the other hand, electronic interaction deals with the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers to exchange ideas through spoken words.

The methods or forms of oral communication include public speaking, group discussions, interviews, debates, narrative communication, phone conversation, or video-conferencing.

Figure 11.3: A picture displaying methods or forms of oral communication

Activity 11.2 Identifying Purposes of Oral Communication

Pair with a friend or classmate to brainstorm and outline at least five purposes of oral communication. Make an oral presentation on your findings to your class.

Purposes of Oral Communication

The purpose of oral communication is important. In oral communication, the speaker is required to state clearly the purpose of the message he or she is giving to the listener.

There are several purposes of oral communication and we are going to look at some of them. After this discussion, compare your answers to Activity 11.2 to verify the information you provided.

1. Informative: To convey information or explain concepts clearly and accurately.

Examples: lectures, presentations, and educational discussions where the goal is to educate the audience about a particular subject.

2. Persuasive: To convince or influence the audience’s thoughts, beliefs, or actions.

Examples: debates, persuasive speeches, and advertising where the speaker aims to sway the audience’s opinion on an issue or project.

3. Expressive: To express thoughts, feelings and emotions. Examples: Storytelling, poetry readings, and personal anecdotes where the speaker shares personal experiences or emotions to connect with the audience.

4. Social: This purpose serves to build and maintain relationships, share experiences, or engage in casual conversations. Example: Informal chats with friends, networking events, and family where the focus is on social interaction rather than delivering a specific message.

5. Education and Instructional: Acquiring knowledge, skills, and understanding through verbal instruction. Instruction also guides or teaches the audience through a process or task. Example: Workshops, training sessions and coaching where the speaker provides step-by-step instructions or demonstrations.

6. Entertainment: This is through the sharing of stories, jokes, and anecdotes to entertain and to include others in a small or large group.

You have done well! You are now going to read some short passages and determine the purpose of the message according what we have just discussed.

Activity 11.3 Identify Purpose of Oral Communication

Read the short passage below and identify the purpose of the message and write one sentence to sum it up.

Passage As we all know, climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Rising temperatures, devastating natural disasters, and perhaps even unpredictable weather patterns are just a few of the consequences of human activities on the environment. That's why it's imperative that we take action now to reduce our carbon footprint and transition to renewable energy sources. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and future generations to protect the planet and ensure a sustainable future.

We shall now look at Oral Narratives. Let us start with the picture activity below.

Figure 11.4: Paintings of older persons surrounded by people in an oral activity.

Activity 11.4 Identifying Some Settings of Oral Narrative

Discuss scene in paintings A and B (Figure 11.4) with your friend or classmate and identify what is happening in them.

Oral Narratives

Oral Narrative refers to the act of telling stories or giving an account of an event through spoken words. It is a fundamental or basic aspect of cultural expression and communication, encompassing various types of storytelling, including myths, legends, folktales, and personal anecdotes. Oral narratives help to preserve culture, educate, entertain and to build a community. By these, they help to transmit knowledge, cultural values and history about a society. The paintings we observed in Figure 11.4 is an example of oral narrative or storytelling. Oral narratives have some unique characteristics or features and we will look at them briefly.

Characteristics of Oral Narratives

Figure 11.5: Characteristics of oral narratives Oral narratives are a vital part of human culture, serving as a means of storytelling that connects individuals to their histories and communities. They highlight the richness of human experience and the importance of sharing stories to maintain cultural continuity. It is important to know that oral narratives use some basic technique to reinforce the purpose of the message in the narration. These techniques are outlined below.

1. Repetition: Helps to emphasise key points and makes stories easier to remember.

2. Imagery: Vivid descriptions create mental pictures that engage the audience.

3. Dialogue: Incorporating conversations between characters adds depth and realism.

4. Pacing: Variation in speed and rhythm to build suspense or highlight important moments.

Activity 11.5 Listen to audio or watch a video to create oral narratives You are now going to watch a short video and provide an oral narrative about the event.

Use the link below to watch the video carefully and give an oral narrative of the event that took place to your friends or classmates, highlighting the purpose of the speech https://youtu.be/pyFZPPTyeVY?t=93 Role-play to your friends or classmates your school principal addressing the students during end of semester closing ceremony.