Download Communication 101

Interpersonal Communication
Introduction to Communication
Communication is an extremely complex and sophisticated
process. Excellent communicators understand the general and
specific aspects of communication. They also know how to use
and modify various aspects of communication to suit the
situation they are communicating in, as well as the intended
message they want to communicate.
Types of Communication
There are two types of communication that people use to communicate.
Verbal Communication – using words to convey a message. Verbal
communication is successful when your message is received as intended.
Watch a scene from the movie ‘V for Vendetta’ for an example of using primarily
verbal communication: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQyqx1K495U
Nonverbal Communication – communication without words, such as the use of
facial expressions, posture, eye contact, tone of voice, gestures etc. You use
nonverbal communication to clarify or make your message stronger.
Watch the episode of Mr. Bean called ‘The Exam’ for an example of using
primarily non-verbal communication:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocd1D8fwdjU
Question: List the elements of non-verbal communication that you see Mr. Bean
using to communicate.
Context
The context or the situation in which people are communicating changes the very
way in which the people communicate. Some things are acceptable to do or say
in one situation but not in another.
Watch a clip on YouTube from “Saving Private Ryan”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaVfHntwVc4
Is swearing in this context appropriate? What is the difference between talking in
this context and talking in another context, such as in a job interview or during
class?
Follow Up Discussion & Questions:
1. Please take the following online quiz to determine how well developed your
communication skills are. Please paste a copy of your results into a word file.
Quiz: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_99.htm
2. Choose one short video clip and explain why the person in the video is
exemplifying good communication skills. Use the types of communication
handout and identify at least 3 aspects of communication that are used well in
the video clip. Please record the link on a word file with your answers to
these questions. You will share this with the class.
3. In what ways can you improve your communication? Identify and describe
two examples for verbal and two examples for non-verbal aspects of
communication you can improve.
Extension Questions
Question
Which type of communication do humans emphasize more, verbal or non-verbal
communication?
To answer this question, consider the following pieces of information:
A researcher by the name of Albert Mehrabian created a communication model
which determines that when it comes to portraying feelings and attitudes different
aspects of communication portray different amounts of the message we are
trying to send. Specifically,
7% of the message is conveyed through the words we speak.
38% of the message is sent paralinguistically (the way that words are said).
55% of the message is sent through the facial expressions we use.
Other people interested in communication disagree with this hypothesis. They
claim that without words, it is extremely difficult for information to be received in
the way that the sender intended it. Watch the following YouTube clip from the
link below to understand the counter argument to Mehrabian’s theory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dboA8cag1M
Questions:
1. Do you believe that Mehrabian’s theory correctly represents the amount of
information that is portrayed through each way when it comes to conveying
feelings and attitudes?
2. Do you think the counter arguments presented in the YouTube clip
demonstrate that Mehrabian’s theory is incorrect? Explain your answer.
3. Do you think the following statements about what one should take away from
what we have just covered are important?
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The more you use of all both aspects of communication – verbal (the words
you speak) and non-verbal (paraliguistics and facial expressions) the easier it
is to more accurately portray your message to your intended audience.
Both verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication have to be used
correctly to accurately convey feelings and attitudes.
Being a good listener means you need to know how to interpret both the
verbal and non-verbal aspects of a sender’s message correctly.
4. Which one is the most important thing to remember? Explain why you believe
it is more important than the rest.