MODULE 2

(Week 2)

Teacher: Jinny Janes B. Ojas, LPT

Educational Attainment: College Graduate (BSEd English)

Subject: Oral Communication in Context

Topic: Nature and Elements of Communication

Module Content:

Lesson 1: Five Elements of Communication

Lesson 2: Effective Communication Skills

Lesson 3: Intercultural Communication

Learning Competencies:
a. Explains why there is a breakdown of communication.
b. Uses various strategies in order to avoid communication breakdown.
c. Demonstrates sensitivity to the socio-cultural dimension of communication situation with
focus on: a) culture b.) gender c.) age d.) social status e.) religion
 Nature and Elements of Communication
I. Pretest
Directions: (Multiple Choice) Read each test item carefully. Write the letter of your answer on
the space provided before each number.

1. It is the idea being transmitted by the sender to the receiver. It includes three aspects
— content, structure, and style.
a. Sender
b. Feedback
c. Message
d. Channel
2. It is the medium or vehicle through which the message is sent.
a. Channel
b. Feedback
c. Message
d. Receiver
3. It is the response or reaction given by the receiver to the sender of the message.
a. Sender
b. Receiver
c. Message
d. Feedback
4. When does encoding take place?
a. When the receiver interprets the message
b. When the sender translates the message into a perceivable form
c. When both sender and receiver need to exchange messages
d. When the sender recognizes the communication style of the other
5. It is the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing,
or behavior.
a. Language
b. Communication
c. Channel
d. Message
6. Which is NOT a basic element of communication?
a. Source
b. Destination
c. Medium
d. Language
7. Which statement does NOT describe decoding process?
a. It is deciding on the medium to use in transmitting a message.
b. It involves interpretation.
c. It is assigning meaning to the message.
d. It is usually done by the receiver in a communication process.
8. What do you call the initiator who begins the conversation??
a. Translator
b. Decoder
c. Sender
d. Receiver
9. It is a barrier which shows that one of the elements in the communication process
blocks the flow of messages.
a. Semantic
b. Labor
c. Psychosocial
d. Process
10. How can you avoid communication breakdown?
a. Apply positive self-talk as the last resort.
b. Use appropriate language only when needed.
 c. Do not suspend your own judgment, ideas, and beliefs.
d. Keep an open mind and avoid overreacting.
11. What aspect of communication refers to the rank assigned by the society to its
members according to their income, titles and possessions?
a. Gender role
b. Age identity
c. Social Class
d. Religious identity
12. It can be bonded to other fields and is connected to psychological barrier in some
communications.
a. Cues
b. Communication
c. Culture
d. Societal
13. What aspect of communication refers to the membership and acceptance into a larger
cultural group?
a. Age identity
b. Cultural identity
c. Gender role
d. Social class
14. What communication barrier refers to problems arising from the expression or delivery
of meaning?
a. Process barrier
b. Physical barrier
c. Semantic barrier
d. Psychosocial barrier
15. What kind of barrier make it hard for the listeners to catch what was said in an
uncomfortable environment?
a. Process barrier
b. Physical barrier
c. Semantic barrier
d. Psychosocial barrier

II. Class Activity

Direction: Kindly write your answer on the space provided below.
What do you think are the reasons for miscommunication? And how do you
personally solve them?

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

III. Instruction on the Proper use of this module:

1. Follow closely the instruction in every activity.

2. Be honest in answering and checking your exercises.
3. Answer the pre-test before going over the materials.
This is to find out what you already know.
4. Answer the exercises encountered at the end of every lesson.
5. Review the lesson that you think you failed to understand.
 6. Seek assistance from your teacher if you need help.

IV. Introduction

This module presents the communication process where it defines the basic elements of
the communication process. It also sheds light on forms of communication and basic
characteristics of each form. The communication process is fundamental to human survival and
is essential to the development of the individual, to the formation and continued the existence of
groups and the interrelations among groups.

Effective communication is a two-way street which is why it is not only how the message
is conveyed but how it is received and understood by receivers in exactly the way it is intended
to extract the full meaning of what was said and to make the other person feel heard and
understood. More than just the words used, effective communication combines a set of skills
including non-verbal communication, engaged listening, managing stress at the moment, the
ability to communicate assertively, and the capacity to recognize and understand own emotions
and communication with other people.

Lesson 3: Five Elements of Communication

Language is the common means for communication. Check your knowledge on some
confusing vocabularies by choosing the correct word in the parentheses. Write the correct answer
on each blank to complete the sentences.

1. (may, can)
__________ I use your oven? I __________ make a pizza.
2. (beside, besides)
Sit __________ an adult when travelling. __________ it is safer, it is more enjoyable.
3. (advise, advice)
My mother’s __________ is to read more to improve my vocabulary and many of my
teachers __________ me the same thing.
4. (adopt, adapt)
We need to __________ to the changes in our environment. We can __________ a
program presented by A1 Gore in his Climate. Reality Leadership Corps held in the
Philippines.
5. (elicit, illicit)
The investigator is trying to __________ inputs from the suspect so the police will be
able to capture his accomplice in the __________ job.

The process of communication involves five basic elements: sender-receiver, message,

channel, feedback and noise.

Sender/Receiver
When an individual start sharing ideas, insights, information, experiences, emotions or
opinions, the communication process begins. The first person to begin the exchange is the sender
and the listener is the receiver. It can alter the move when the receiver acts as the sender.
For example, a teacher tells her student to look for a book in the library. The teacher is
now the sender and the student the receiver. When the student responds and answers her
teacher’s request, the student at this point is the sender. In this situation, the communication
process is always two-way.
Message
This is the most important element in communication. All ideas, information, emotions,
insights or experiences shared by the communicator are his messages. These may be verbal or
nonverbal.
It is necessary that the words and gestures used by the speaker should be clear enough to
avoid confusion or misunderstanding. Using abstract ideas may cause some complications,
especially with the specific meanings to what a sender really means. Careful choice of words is a
essential for clarity.
Non-verbal symbols are ways of conveying a message such as body movements and
postures, facial expressions, gestures, vocal tones and others. The more care is important in the
use of nonverbal symbols because they may have different meanings depending on the individual
differences of the communicators.

Channel
It is the medium where the message between the sender to the receiver travels. In a face-
to-face communication, the main channels are the sound and sight because the speakers listen
and speak at each other’s presence. Channels can also be in a form of writing, using the phone,
using gadgets, listening over the radio, watching television, recording ideas, reading newspaper
and magazines.

Feedback
It is the reaction observed through the exchange of the sender and the receiver. This will
decide whether the message is understood or not. They may come as simple gestures like a nod,
a smile, a frown, a body movement. The best feedback is through verbal response so as to avoid
misunderstanding or miscommunication.

Noise
It is the presence of a disorganize factor that may lead to a misunderstanding of the
message. Noise may vary.
 There is physical noise which may come from distracting sounds that change the
transfer of message. For example, the loud screaming of people surrounding the
speakers. It will surely cause some confusions in the real message.
 There is the psychological noise, occurring in the minds of both sender and receiver.
A simple pain in the sender may affect the accuracy of the message and the thing may
happen on the receiver who when in pain my not be able to really grasp the
uniqueness of the message.

What is the importance of each elements in the communication process?

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 Activity: Describe the process of communication by identifying the role of its
components.

Lesson 4: Effective Communication Skills

Watch the Hollywood movie Karate Kid starred by Jaden Smith (as Dre) and Jackie Chan (as
Mr. Han). It depicts intercultural communication between an American and Chinese. Answer
the comprehension questions and share them to class.

1. Why did Dre and his mother move to China?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. As an American boy, what was his adjustment to the new environment in China? Name
five Chinese culture that he adopted.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. How was he treated by the Chinese kids in school?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Developing Your Communication

 When trying to connect with a wide variety of people, there is a need to start by
asking these five questions:
- What common ground do we share?
- Do they feel comfortable with our conversation?
- Are my responses making them feel understood?
- Is my intent being clearly defined?
- Will our connection be better after our interaction?

Benefits
Enhanced
Professional
Better Image
Increase
Quality of
Productivity
Documents

Stronger
Lesser Effective Decision
Making
Misunderstanding
Communication

Increased Quicker
Awareness Problem
Among Healthier Solving
Improved
Customer Business
Relationship Relationship

What is effective Communication?

The ability to communicate effectively is a great skill although, some cannot
communicate their ideas well, because not all people are alike. These differences may cause
problems in sending/receiving messages. Barriers to communication can cause roadblocks in
a person’s professional or personal life.
Effective communication may be disturbed by different barriers or obstacles that make it
difficult to reach an understanding between a speaker and a listener. Second language
learners usually find their mother tongue as a barrier in learning English. Aside from that,
here are some barriers that may cause breakdown in communication:

 Process barriers shows that one of the elements in the communication process
blocks the flow of messages (verbally/nonverbally).
 Physical barriers include distracting sounds and noise. These make it hard for the
listeners to catch what was said. A speaker and a listener are affected by the
surroundings. A very cold or hot room temperature is also a physical barrier, making
the speaker and listener uncomfortable. When one is uncomfortable, he or she may
not listen or respond well.
 Semantic barriers refer to problems arising from the expression or transmission of
meaning. Meanings for words are filtered through one’s frame of reference or the
total of his or her beliefs., knowledge, education, culture and experience. Thus,
misunderstanding or difference in interpretation may occur since no two people can
have exactly the same frame of reference.
 Psychosocial barriers can be one’s status and perception. Consciousness of one’s
status affects the two-way flow of communication. It gives rise to personal barriers
caused by the superior-subordinate relationship. Likewise, human perceptions – the
mental images of the external world – are stored in their brains and form their
viewpoints, experiences, knowledge, feelings, and emotions.

Strategies to Avoid Communication Breakdown

 1. Apply positive self-talk and perception. Positivity is the best encouragement. It welcomes
good vibes and pleasant outlook in all communication.
2. Use appropriate language. Tailor the words you will use based on your audience or
listener. Keep it simple and understandable. For example, figurative language (e.g.,
simile, metaphor) is usually used in literature and in formal conversations, not in ordinary
or casual conversations.
3. Be open. Suspend your own judgment, ideas, and beliefs. Give the speaker time to
develop and express his or her ideas or points before you conclude if the message has any
value, or none at all.
4. Give and accept feedback. Feedback keeps the communication going. Respond to what
has been heard. Keep an open mind and avoid overreacting emotionally to a message or
feedback.

Exercise: Here are some examples of communication barriers. Classify them by naming the
specific barrier on each blank.

1. Barking dogs ______________________

2. Limited vocabulary ______________________
3. No job experience ______________________
4. Paranoia ______________________
5. Sickness ______________________
6. No boyfriend since birth ______________________
7. No audience ______________________
8. Negative comments on Facebook ______________________
9. Static microphone ______________________
10. Corrupt political image ______________________

Why does breakdown of communication take place? Give various strategies in order to
avoid communication breakdown.

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Having difficulties and needs

help? For clarifications don’t hesitate to
contact your teacher during consultation
hours (MWF 1pm-2pm. TTH 10am-11am)
Phone No: 09283504038
FB Account: Jin Ojas

Gmail: [email protected]
Lesson 5: Intercultural Communication

Before we dig deeper into our next lesson, let’s answer this question:
What comes to mind when you encounter the word ‘intercultural’ and why does it seem
to be important in communication?
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__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Communication is a free flowing of ideas exchanged by the members of a certain group.

The communicators may be coming from all walks of life from different parts of the world. The
verbal nonverbal communication that they are exchanging involve their background and values.
Culture can be connected to the psychosocial barrier in some communication. Culture has
become a part of some modern words today such as cross culture, multicultural. Etc. the
compounding of the word “culture” means one thing; any word can be associated with it. Culture
can be bonded to other field of studies including communication.

Importance of Intercultural Communication

 Symbolic exchange. Language is a big factor in intercultural communication. Symbols
and signs can be an option to bridge miscommunication brought about by language.
 Irreversible process. It is a permanent procedure in a mutually dependent environment
of intercultural encounter. This means that a communicator may not be changing his/her
cultural communication but he/she can adjust to cultural communication of others.
 Different cultural communities. A cultural community is composed of interacting
individuals with shared beliefs and way of life. Intercultural communication is a
convention where a number of cultural communities share unified cultures.
 Negotiate shared meanings. Agree on general objective of the intercultural
communication encounter.
 Interactive situation. The interactive scene involves the physical setting like seating
arrangement and psychological features such as behavior, cognitive concepts, social
skills, etc.

Socio-cultural Aspects of Communication

Culture and communication have good chemistry. Their elements complement each other
therefore they cannot be separated. It is unavoidable to change one’s culture but it can be
learned. Communicators must be mindful of the socio-cultural aspect of the members of the
communication who come from different cultures.
 Cultural identity refers to the membership and acceptance into a larger cultural group
that share a system of tradition, norms and values. It involves the people’s standards of
appropriate and inappropriate behavior. The level of one’s cultural identity influences
his/her emotional significance in the cultural group that influences his/her behavior as
well. Communication should also be multicultural; be open to the insights of other
communicators with different cultures.
  Gender role is not necessarily limited to male and female. In some culture, dresses and
skirts are proudly worn by men. While women, in another culture, are not only seen
nursing children at home but they also run a country or lead a nation. The society and
media representations of gender inform and influence the people’s understanding and
expectations of the gender roles in the real world. Like culture, communicators must
respect and accept the gender preference of each human being. People do not have the
authority to judge or condemn others’ sexual orientation.
 Age identity refers to how people feel and think about themselves as they age. Not all
children are innocent and childish, even adults are not all matured and responsible. Age
identity can influence one’s self-image, personality, language use, attitudes and
communication with others. Hence, communicators must be oriented with the age
identity of the person they are interacting with so they can give a meaningful feedback.
 Social class is the rank assigned by the society to its members according to their income,
titles, possessions, etc. Peoples’ perception of another ‘s social class affects the way they
communicate. The social class of one culture may not apply to another culture. Generally,
speaking, the higher classes enjoy more privileged roles, and the lower classes are
assigned manual labor. Regardless of one’s social class, people should communicate with
him/her in a manner that he/she finds acceptable.
 Religious identity refers to the active or inactive membership of a person to a certain
religious organization. Some see themselves as members of various religious groups.
Either way, their religious beliefs, values and world views are associated with their way
of life. Religion is very sacred and important to anyone or perhaps to everyone. Hence
religious issues and prejudices should be handled properly and respectfully.

Strategies in Communicating Across Cultures

 Mindful intercultural communicators must develop understanding of the valuable

differences and consistently recognize the similarities they share with them. Intercultural
communication involves varying degrees of cultural group membership differences.
 Intercultural communicators must mindfully choose the suitable words and actions that
are culturally acceptable to others. Intercultural communication involves the
simultaneous encoding and decoding of verbal and nonverbal messages in the exchange
process.
 Culturally, different communicators oftentimes encounter conflict with the other
communicators. But mindful members of communication must deal with it skillfully and
tactfully. Many intercultural encounters involve well-meaning clashes.
 Observant intercultural communicators consider the connection among communication
patterns. Be mindful of the context (text or speech) and culture of the communication to
prevent cultural differences in an unexpected situation.
 Open your minds to dissimilar culture because it can give you fresh options to try a new
approach in life. It always takes place in embedded systems.

Activity:
Demonstrate sensitivity on socio-cultural aspects of communication across cultures by
celebrating the United Nations Day.
Find the following information about your chosen country and write on the space
provided below. If you have difficulties in connecting to the web, do not hesitate to give a call,
text or DM your teacher on her social media accounts.
You may write your answer in the table on the next page:
 Country

Language

Beliefs / Traditions / Fashion / Food

Try this out!

List down at least types of non-verbal communication commonly used by Filipinos. List
down their meaning in the second column.

Non-Verbal Communication Meaning / Context

Example: Pouting their lips Pointing something or someone’s direction.
I. NEW LEARNINGS
 The process of communication involves five basic elements: sender-receiver,
message, channel, feedback and noise.
 Message is the most vital element in the process of communication
 Communication barriers include process, physical, semantic and psychosocial
barriers.
 The Intercultural communication promote symbolic exchange, irreversible process,
different cultural communities, negotiate shared meanings and interactive situation.
 Culture and communication have good chemistry. Their elements complement each
other therefore they cannot be separated.
 Socio-cultural aspects of communication refer to cultural identity, gender role, age
identity, social class, and religious identity.

II. WHAT CAN I DO?

1. How can you promote the importance of intercultural communication? Explain and
write it on the space provided.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. How can you demonstrate sensitivity to the socio-cultural dimension of
communication situation with focus on: culture, gender, age, social status and
religion?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

III. Post-test

Directions: (Multiple Choice) Read each test item carefully. Write the letter of your answer on
the space provided before each number.

1. It is the idea being transmitted by the sender to the receiver. It includes three aspects
— content, structure, and style.
a. Sender
b. Feedback
c. Message
d. Channel
2. It is the medium or vehicle through which the message is sent.
a. Channel
b. Feedback
c. Message
d. Receiver
3. It is the response or reaction given by the receiver to the sender of the message.
a. Sender
b. Receiver
c. Message
d. Feedback
4. When does encoding take place?
a. When the receiver interprets the message
b. When the sender translates the message into a perceivable form
c. When both sender and receiver need to exchange messages
d. When the sender recognizes the communication style of the other
5. It is the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing,
or behavior.
a. Language
b. Communication
c. Channel
d. Message
6. Which is NOT a basic element of communication?
a. Source
b. Destination
c. Medium
d. Language
7. Which statement does NOT describe decoding process?
a. It is deciding on the medium to use in transmitting a message.
b. It involves interpretation.
c. It is assigning meaning to the message.
d. It is usually done by the receiver in a communication process.
8. What do you call the initiator who begins the conversation??
a. Translator
b. Decoder
c. Sender
d. Receiver
9. It is a barrier which shows that one of the elements in the communication process
blocks the flow of messages.
a. Semantic
b. Labor
c. Psychosocial
d. Process
10. How can you avoid communication breakdown?
a. Apply positive self-talk as the last resort.
b. Use appropriate language only when needed.
c. Do not suspend your own judgment, ideas, and beliefs.
d. Keep an open mind and avoid overreacting.
11. What aspect of communication refers to the rank assigned by the society to its
members according to their income, titles and possessions?
a. Gender role
b. Age identity
c. Social Class
d. Religious identity
12. It can be bonded to other fields and is connected to psychological barrier in some
communications.
a. Cues
b. Communication
 c. Culture
d. Societal
13. What aspect of communication refers to the membership and acceptance into a larger
cultural group?
a. Age identity
b. Cultural identity
c. Gender role
d. Social class
14. What communication barrier refers to problems arising from the expression or delivery
of meaning?
a. Process barrier
b. Physical barrier
c. Semantic barrier
d. Psychosocial barrier
15. What kind of barrier make it hard for the listeners to catch what was said in an
uncomfortable environment?
a. Process barrier
b. Physical barrier
c. Semantic barrier
d. Psychosocial barrier
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bernardo, Ritchel B. (2016). Oral Communication. Pasay City, Philippines. JFS Publishing
Services.

Dapat, Jose Rizal O., MAT, Sadorra, Bryan Eli B., MAT, LIB, & Lumabi, Bethany Marie C.,
MAT. (2016). Oral Communication in Focus for Senior High School (Core Subject). Metro
Manila. Lorimar Publishing, Inc.

Sipacio, Philippe John F. & Balgos, Anne Richie G. (2016). Oral Communication in Context for
Senior High School. Quezon City, Philippines. C & E Publishing Inc.

Teaching Guide for Senior High School: Fundamentals of Accountancy, Business and
Management 1 Published by the Commission on Higher Education, 2016 Chairperson: Patricia
B. Licuanan, Ph.D.

StuDocu. (n.d.). Five Elements of Communication. Retrieved from

https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/our-lady-of-fatima-university/oral-
communication/lecture-notes/five-elements-of-communication/2587076/view.