Communication Skills
Ms. Amy O. Maki, M.Ed.
MATC Scholars Program
September 27-30, 2017
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Learning Objectives
• Learning Outcomes
• Session Presentation
• Conclusion
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• The components of effective communication
• The importance of appropriate writing and
speaking in academic and corporate settings
• Improvement of communication skills through
written and verbal activities
• The role of non-verbal communication cues
• Components of a personal statements
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Gain a better understanding of effective
communication skills and their importance
• Learn how to avoid some common
mishaps in communicating
• Acquire an appreciation of the role of non-
verbal communication cues
• Begin a personal statement draft
Session Overview
• Terminology & Philosophy
• Components of Verbal Communication
• Components of Written Communication
• Academic In-person Interview (Active Learning)
• Writing Your Personal Statement (Active Learning)
• Conclusion
Terminology & Philosophy
Definition of Communication
1. An act or instance of transmitting
2. Information transmitted or conveyed
A verbal or written message
3. A process by which information is exchanged between
individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or
behaviors
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication
Components of Verbal Communication
• What words do you use? The message
• How do you verbally communicate? Tone, pitch, pace
(Paraverbal) inflection
• What does your body communicate? Body language
• What was being said? Listening
• Who are you speaking to? Audience
Components of Written Communication
• Who is it for? Audience
• What is the message? Word choice
• How is it written? Punctuation, word usage,
grammar, format
Remember the old adage “Writing is Rewriting”
Active Learning Scenario I
Scenario I:
You see the cashier smile at you as you wait in the
checkout line. You stop your texting and smile back as
the woman in front of you says “NO” to the foot-
stomping child whose hand she tugs. Noticing the
commotion, the two deaf people signing to one another
turn around.
Active Learning Scenario II
From Eats, Shoots & Leaves
by Lynne Truss
A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a
gun and fires two shots in the air.
“Why?” asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit.
The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it
over his shoulder.
“I’m a panda,” he says, at the door. “Look it up.”
The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an
explanation.
“Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China.
Eats, shoots and leaves.”
by Lynne Truss
Preparing for Academic Interview and Writing a
Personal Statement
Questions that need to be answered:
1. Why graduate school?
2. Within my discipline what interests me?
3. Why this particular institution?
4. Why am I qualified?
5. What are my strengths and weaknesses?
6. What do I bring to the graduate program?
7. What are my plans after graduation?
8. What type of career am I considering?
9. What personal values will guide my decisions?
10.Do I have a plan?
Academic In-person Interview
It is generally accepted that between 70-90% face-to-face verbal
communication is “nonverbal” and “paraverbal.” Listen to what is
being asked or said and keep your response on point and to the point
while keeping in mind the following:
Nonverbal Paraverbal
Body Language Pace
Posture Tone
Mannerisms Volume
Proximity Inflection
Eye contact Pitch
Barriers/Reminders: Verbal Communication
Barriers
• Not listening
• Use of idioms, acronyms, abbreviations
• Distractive mannerisms
• Rambling responses
• Grammatical errors (Subject verb agreement)
• Inappropriate body language (no eye contact, slouching, finger
pointing)
Reminders
• Listen
• Be concise/focused
• Be aware of proximity
• Volume, Pace, tone, pitch
• Word usage (Grammar)
Writing Your Personal Statement Activity
• Personal Statements usually focuses on who you are, that is, your
qualities and character. It can also include your research interests if
a statement of purpose is not requested.
• The Audience may be faculty, discipline specialist, and non-specialist.
• Using the short guide to writing a personal statement (by Strode’s
College in Egham Surrey) start a draft.
Barriers/Reminders: Written Communication
Barriers
• Lack of preparation
• Lack of focused response
• Grammatical errors
Reminders
• Read the instructions
• Remember the audience
• Be concise/focused
Conclusion
To successfully conveying a verbal or written message – to
communicate:
• Clearly understand what is being asked
• Think through the response
• Respond to the specific request directly & concisely
• Practice
Slide design © 2009, Mid-America Transportation Center. All rights reserved.
Ms. Amy O. Maki, M.Ed.
Founder/President
A.O. Maki & Associates, L.L.C.
12821 82nd Avenue NE
Kirkland, WA 98034
amyomaki47@gmail.com
CREDITS

2017 MATC Scholars Program: Ms. Amy Maki

  • 1.
    Communication Skills Ms. AmyO. Maki, M.Ed. MATC Scholars Program September 27-30, 2017 University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2.
    OUTLINE • Introduction • LearningObjectives • Learning Outcomes • Session Presentation • Conclusion
  • 3.
    LEARNING OBJECTIVES • Thecomponents of effective communication • The importance of appropriate writing and speaking in academic and corporate settings • Improvement of communication skills through written and verbal activities • The role of non-verbal communication cues • Components of a personal statements
  • 4.
    LEARNING OUTCOMES • Gaina better understanding of effective communication skills and their importance • Learn how to avoid some common mishaps in communicating • Acquire an appreciation of the role of non- verbal communication cues • Begin a personal statement draft
  • 5.
    Session Overview • Terminology& Philosophy • Components of Verbal Communication • Components of Written Communication • Academic In-person Interview (Active Learning) • Writing Your Personal Statement (Active Learning) • Conclusion
  • 6.
    Terminology & Philosophy Definitionof Communication 1. An act or instance of transmitting 2. Information transmitted or conveyed A verbal or written message 3. A process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behaviors http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication
  • 7.
    Components of VerbalCommunication • What words do you use? The message • How do you verbally communicate? Tone, pitch, pace (Paraverbal) inflection • What does your body communicate? Body language • What was being said? Listening • Who are you speaking to? Audience
  • 8.
    Components of WrittenCommunication • Who is it for? Audience • What is the message? Word choice • How is it written? Punctuation, word usage, grammar, format Remember the old adage “Writing is Rewriting”
  • 9.
    Active Learning ScenarioI Scenario I: You see the cashier smile at you as you wait in the checkout line. You stop your texting and smile back as the woman in front of you says “NO” to the foot- stomping child whose hand she tugs. Noticing the commotion, the two deaf people signing to one another turn around.
  • 10.
    Active Learning ScenarioII From Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air. “Why?” asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder. “I’m a panda,” he says, at the door. “Look it up.” The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation. “Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.” by Lynne Truss
  • 11.
    Preparing for AcademicInterview and Writing a Personal Statement Questions that need to be answered: 1. Why graduate school? 2. Within my discipline what interests me? 3. Why this particular institution? 4. Why am I qualified? 5. What are my strengths and weaknesses? 6. What do I bring to the graduate program? 7. What are my plans after graduation? 8. What type of career am I considering? 9. What personal values will guide my decisions? 10.Do I have a plan?
  • 12.
    Academic In-person Interview Itis generally accepted that between 70-90% face-to-face verbal communication is “nonverbal” and “paraverbal.” Listen to what is being asked or said and keep your response on point and to the point while keeping in mind the following: Nonverbal Paraverbal Body Language Pace Posture Tone Mannerisms Volume Proximity Inflection Eye contact Pitch
  • 13.
    Barriers/Reminders: Verbal Communication Barriers •Not listening • Use of idioms, acronyms, abbreviations • Distractive mannerisms • Rambling responses • Grammatical errors (Subject verb agreement) • Inappropriate body language (no eye contact, slouching, finger pointing) Reminders • Listen • Be concise/focused • Be aware of proximity • Volume, Pace, tone, pitch • Word usage (Grammar)
  • 14.
    Writing Your PersonalStatement Activity • Personal Statements usually focuses on who you are, that is, your qualities and character. It can also include your research interests if a statement of purpose is not requested. • The Audience may be faculty, discipline specialist, and non-specialist. • Using the short guide to writing a personal statement (by Strode’s College in Egham Surrey) start a draft.
  • 15.
    Barriers/Reminders: Written Communication Barriers •Lack of preparation • Lack of focused response • Grammatical errors Reminders • Read the instructions • Remember the audience • Be concise/focused
  • 16.
    Conclusion To successfully conveyinga verbal or written message – to communicate: • Clearly understand what is being asked • Think through the response • Respond to the specific request directly & concisely • Practice
  • 17.
    Slide design ©2009, Mid-America Transportation Center. All rights reserved. Ms. Amy O. Maki, M.Ed. Founder/President A.O. Maki & Associates, L.L.C. 12821 82nd Avenue NE Kirkland, WA 98034 [email protected] CREDITS