Oral Communication in Context

Strategies for Effective Communication

Week 2, Module 6, Quarter 2

I. INSTRUCTION

Before going through, it is very important to read the lessons carefully to understand the concept. You
may collaborate with other students or consult other references, if it is necessary. There are follow-up activities
that are intended for you to process what have your learned. Lastly, enjoy what you are doing and be inspired
to study well.

II. INTRODUCTION

This module will help you become effective communicators. This is where you start to apply strategies
that will help you be at ease in communicating with others. You will also see the significance of learning the
different speech context, style and act which are all useful in communication.

These are the competencies included in this module:

 Employs various communicative strategies in different situations.
 Explains that a shift in speech context, speech style, speech act and communicative strategy affects
the following:
1. Language form
2. Duration of interaction
3. Relationship of speaker
4. Role and responsibilities of the speaker
5. Message
6. Delivery

III. CONCEPTS
LESSON 1: COMMUNICATIVE STRATEGIES

We need to communicate to others to establish a relationship and to have better understanding.

However, there are times when miscommunication occurs. It is important that we know how to adjust and be
able to communicate effectively.

Cohen (1990) states that strategies must be used to start and maintain a conversation. Knowing and
applying grammar appropriately is one of the most basic strategies to maintain a conversation. These are the
strategies that people use:

1. Nomination – employed when you try to open a topic with the people you are talking to. You may start
off with news inquiries and news announcements as they promise extended talk. This could signal the
beginning of a new topic in the conversation.

2. Restriction – refers to any limitation you may have as a speaker. You are given specific instruction that
you must follow. These instructions confine you as a speaker and limit what you can say.

3. Turn-taking – pertains to the process by which people decide who takes the conversation floor. There
is a code of behavior behind establishing and sustaining a productive conversation, but the primary
idea is to give all communicators a chance to speak.

4. Topic Control – covers how procedural formality or informality affects the development of topic in
conversations. This is achieved cooperatively. When a topic is initiated, it should be collectively
developed by avoiding unnecessary interruptions and topic shifts. You can say “Yes,” “okay,” “go on,”
or asking tag questions to be actively involved without dominating.

5. Topic shifting – involves moving from one topic to another. You have to be very intuitive. Make sure
that the previous topic was nurtured enough to generate adequate views. You may say, “by the way,”
“in addition to what you said,” “which reminds me of,” and the like.

6. Repair – refers to how speakers address the problem in speaking, listening and comprehending that
they may encounter in a conversation. For example, if everybody in the conversation seems to talk at
the same time, give way and appreciate other’s initiative to set the conversation back to its topic.
 7. Termination – refers to the conversation participants’ close-initiating expressions that end a topic in a
conversation. Most of the time, the one who initiated the conversation takes responsibility to signal the
concluding cues. You can do this by sharing what you learned or complete the discussion of the topic.

If you will be able to use these strategies well, you will be good in handling conversations. You will
avoid miscommunication. However, you must also consider the situation. You must choose your words
wisely. What you say must depend on what the situation calls for.

For example, if you are just talking with friends, then it is alright to be casual and when you start and
end the conversation, you need not be formal. Meanwhile, if you are in a formal situation, you must
start and control the conversation with care. Be polite whenever you can. You have nothing to lose
when you do that.

LESSON 2: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

You have learned about the different speech context, speech style, speech act and communicative
strategies. Why do we need to know all of these?

We need to know the speech context so that we will know what style and act to use in communicating
with others. We can choose the best words to say in applying the communicative strategies. Whenever there is
a shift on any of these, the language form, duration of interaction, relationship of speaker, role and
responsibilities of the speaker, message and delivery are affected. Therefore, all of these can affect how we
approach, what we say, and how long we to speak with others.

For example,

A.

Approach Situation: you and your best friends are

talking
Context: Dyad Style: Casual
Language Form Less formal words, use those that you
both understand
Duration of interaction Not very long unless you are in a hurry
Relationship of speaker Friends
Role and responsibilities of the speaker Make each other feel happy or
comfortable
Message Funny experiences
Delivery Extemporaneous, not rehearsed

B.

Approach Situation: you are talking to your

guidance counselor
Context: Dyad Style: Consultative
Language Form A bit formal and serious
Duration of interaction There is a time limit from 10-30
minutes
Relationship of speaker Professional
Role and responsibilities of the speaker Speaker must be polite and honest
Message Personal experience
Delivery Clear and extemporaneous

You will see that there is a difference in the approaches if the context is different. What is important is
you know what is the APPROPRIATE approach. This is the best way to become effective in our
communication with others. It is not enough that you know the concepts. You have to understand how to use
them, where to apply and when to adjust. Before you know it, you have already been a good speaker!
IV. GENERALIZATON

Remember these key points:

 There are different strategies that people use when communicating:

1. Nomination
2. Restriction
3. Turn-taking
4. Topic shifting
5. Topic control
6. Repair
7. Termination.
 You must be able to employ these communicative strategies appropriately in any situation
 A shift in speech context, style, act and communicative strategy affects the following:
1. language form
2. duration of interaction
3. relationship of speaker
4. role and responsibilities of the speaker
5. message delivery
 You must be able to adjust and speak appropriately in any situation

REFERENCES

Deped Curriculum Guide

Sipacio, Philippe John Fresnillo and Balgos, Anne Richie Garcia. Oral Communication in Context. Quezon
City: C&E Publishing House, Inc., 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2zGIN8IVKQ&feature=share
communicative strategies accessed May 12, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMv2fAWrP_8&feature=sh
communicative strategies accessed May 12, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlo2d_65h8Y&feature=share
examples of context, style, act and strategies accessed May 12, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coPGjFRFPMQ&feature=share
examples of context, style, act and strategies accessed May 12, 2020
 Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
MALABANG COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
Malabang, Lanao del Sur
School Year 2020 – 2021

WORKSHEETS
Strategies for Effective Communication
Week 2, Module 6, Quarter 2
Name: _______________________________ Grade & Section: ___________________ Score: __________

ASSESSMENT
What type of strategy is used in each statement? Write your answer on the blanks provided. (2 pts. each)
____________________1. Do you have anything to say?
____________________2. One of the essential lessons I gained from the discussion is the importance of
listening well to others.
____________________3. Excuse me? I think we should talk one at a time.
____________________4. Go on with your ideas. I will let you finish before I say something.
____________________5. Have you heard the latest news?
____________________6. Hi Jonas! How are you?
____________________7. Send my regards to them! See you next week!
____________________8. Good to see you. Anyway, I came to visit you because I want to personally
offer apologies for what happened yesterday.
____________________9. Sorry, I can’t decide on that now. Let us discuss it tomorrow, okay?
____________________10. Now, it’s your turn to ask me a question.
Choose the letter that corresponds to the correct answer. Write the letter of your choice on the blanks provided
before the number. (2 pts. each)

_____1. All of these are affected when there is a shift in speech context and speech style. Which does
NOT belong to the group?
a. Topic Control b. Language Form c. Delivery d. Message

_____2. Which of the following is NOT a communicative strategy?

a. Restriction b. Responsibility c. Repair d. Termination

_____3. What pertains to the process by which people decide who takes the conversation floor?
a. Repair b. Topic Control c. Topic Shifting d. Turn-taking

_____4. What strategy involves moving from one topic to another?

a. Restriction b. Topic Control c. Topic Shifting d. Turn-taking

_____5. What covers how procedural formality or informality affects the development of topic in
conversations?
a. Repair b. Topic Control c. Topic Shifting d. Turn-taking

_____6. Which refers to the conversation participants’ close-initiating expressions that end a topic in a
conversation?
a. Restriction b. Repair c. Topic Shifting d. Termination

_____7. What refers to how speakers address the problem in speaking, listening and comprehending that
they may encounter in a conversation?
a. Restriction b. Repair c. Topic Shifting d. Turn-taking

_____8. Which of the following is an example of nomination?

a. Hello, Jazz! How have you been? c. I have to leave. Excuse me.
b. Please go back to the main topic. d. Speaking of fun, there is a carnival in town.

_____9. Which of the following is an example of termination?

a. No, you got it wrong. c. Do you know the latest event?
b. The correct answer is “true.” d. Please excuse me, my mom is calling.

_____10. When you say, “Please tell Geo that the he has to see Ms. Daisy,” what strategy are you applying?
a. Nomination b. Topic shifting c. Repair d. Restriction