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Communication
1. What do we mean by “Communication”?
2. What types of communication are there? Give examples
Communication is a process that allows people to exchange information by one of several
methods. There are two forms of communication:
a)
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VERBAL
when we use words to communicate.
it can be written or spoken
written: letter, e-mail, ICQ, chat rooms, text messages, short notes and messages,
postcards, greeting cards, forms and questionnaires, magazines, journals, facsimile
spoken: phones (mobiles and landlines), the Internet – webcams, dictaphones, CD´s,
DVD´s, videos, cassettes, a message on an answer machine
b) NON-VERBAL
- exchanging thoughts, opinions or information without the use of words or sentences.
a) body language – posture, gestures, facial expressions (smile, frown, grin), touching
someone
b) signs – road signs, zebra crossing, sign language, numbers
c) colours – in some countries colours express different meanings
d) lights – traffic lights, a beacon, a lit window
e) sounds and noises – a car beeping the horn, the Morse code
f) pictures and graphics – a smiley face, a symbol of heart
g) symbols – a white flag, an owl, a red rose
Another division of communication:
a) “one-to-one” – there are two people involved, e. g. talking to someone on a mobile
b) “one-to-many” – e. g. posting something on a website, talking to more people on the
speaker phone
c) “many-to-many” – e. g. Internet forum, chatrooms
3. Give some examples of private and business communication. What are the
main differences between them?
a) private: a letter to a friend, a text message, an informal e-mail
b) business: a memo, a formal letter/e-mail, a phone call to a manager, a customer or a
supplier, a report
The differences are in form and in content. For instance, a formal letter must be written in a
certain layout, should not contain slang words, abbreviations (e. g. CUL8), or contracted forms
of verbs (e. g. aren´t). It requires more planning.
4. Describe the communication process.
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4. What are mass media? Give examples. Do you think they influence public
opinion?
5. Newspapers. Do you read them? What two main groups are there? What are
supplements? Where can people buy newspapers?
The press should be independent, not biased, but sometimes it is private. There are regulations
as to what can be published, although sometimes the content is controversial.
In Britain, most newspapers are daily (= they are published every day). In the Czech Republic,
only a few come out on Sunday. Some come out weekly, monthly or fortnightly. Some
newspapers come out in the morning and some in the evening.
a) tabloids – they have a smaller format, write about sensations or scandals, not the real
news. Tabloids usually write about film stars, violent crimes, they include a lot of gossip
and trivia (unimportant news). The source of the information is not known and is not
trustworthy.
Examples in Britain: The Sun, The Mirror.
b) broadsheets – quality newspapers, write about real news. They contain longer and more
serious articles.
Examples in Britain: The Times, The Independent, The Guardian.
Some newspapers are local, some regional, and some are national.
Supplements are colour magazines which come out once a week (often on Sundays) as an
addition to a newspaper. Some newspapers provide free CD´s to attract customers.
People can get newspapers in different ways. They can subscribe to them and have them
delivered by the paper boy/girl, or they can buy them from the newsagent, people selling them
on the street, a petrol station.
6. Magazines. Give examples. Do you read them? Do you subscribe to any? Where
can people buy them? In which respect are they different from newspapers?
People can subscribe to magazines or buy them at various places, e. g. the newsagent,
a supermarket, a petrol station. Some are sold by homeless people to give them a chance to
earn some income (e. g. Nový Prostor in our country, or The Big Issue in Britain.) Some are
free of charge, e. g. The Watchtower (by the Jehovah Witnesses), or some promotional ones.
Magazines are often available at libraries.
Magazines usually target a certain group of people, e. g. women, gardeners, collectors.
They contain colour pictures and are printed on more quality paper. Therefore, they are more
expensive than newspapers.
Examples of glossy magazines – Cosmopolitan, Maxim, Vogue.
National Geographic specializes in articles about nature.
Some magazines are specialized, for academic use – they are called journals.
7. Do you listen to the radio? What radio channels are there in our country?
8. Do you watch TV? What TV channels are there in our country? What is the
prime time? What is the difference between a channel and a programme? Can
we watch foreign channels in our country?
9. What do you think of soap operas, TV commercials and reality shows? What are
the target audiences?
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10. When telephoning, what do you need to know?
11. Describe your mobile phone. Do you have any accessories? How important is it
for you?
12. Discuss the pros and cons of mobile phones.
13. How can people pay for their phone calls?
People can pay by monthly bills – if they have a tariff phone, or buy pre-paid credit – pay as
you go - purchase coupons and activate them, or charge the phone in supermarkets or cash
machines. To use the phone, it needs to have a battery, which needs to be charged – with a
charger. If you want to use your mobile while driving, you need a hands free. You can use your
mobile as an alarm clock, a diary (with reminders), a calculator, a music player, to play games,
to store information, to send e-mails. Some companies now offer to use the Internet. Some
phones include a camera, with MMS you can send pictures or videos.
14. Discuss the uses of the Internet. Are there some drawbacks?
Advantages:
+ available globally (provided there is access)
+ quite user friendly
+ relatively easy for anyone to design a web site or to send an email
+ reduces the use of paper – environment friendly
+ fast, instantenous
+ interactive
+ wide usage: can be used for contacting people (Spolužáci, Friends Re-united), banking,
shopping, education (on-line courses), meeting people (chat rooms, datelines), searching
information, (timetables, phone numbers, weather forecast), getting advice (forums), downloading
music, movies, books, entertainment (reading the news, chatting)
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Disadvantages
must have access to the Internet and a computer
necessary to use electricity
no control over the content
children can view unsuitable sites or arrange to meet with strangers
viruses, computers can crash
too much information – how can we choose where to search?
people can upload information without somebody´s consent
(e. g. photos, info which is not true)
authorship rights?
less suitable for blind people
older people are often scared to use computers
web sites need to be updated regularly – if not, the info is outdated
14. Comment on the services of the post office. What do you think the future is for
them?
15. What do you need if you want to send a letter?
16. Advertising on TV and radio: how much does it disturb you as a potential
listener/viewer? What do you think about the amount of advertising time on
commercial TV/radio stations? How should non-commercial stations be
financed: from the state, through advertising or only from TV/radio audience
fees?
17. Can you give examples of situations in the business environment when nonverbal communication is extremely important?
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