Check Your Progress Notes

A. Multiple choice questions

Read carefully all the options given below the question
and choose the correct option(s).
1. What is phonetics?
(a) It is the study of how we write words in English.
(b) It is the study of how people understand sentences.
(c) It is the study of how many words the English
language has.
(d) It is the study of the sounds we make when we speak.
2. What are the different types of sounds we use in
English pronunciation?
(a) Vowel sounds
(b) Diphthong sounds
(c) Consonant sounds
(d) All of the above

What Have You Learnt?

After completing this session, you will be able to
• explain the meaning of Phonetics.
• differentiate between Vowel, Diphthong and Consonant.
• pronounce simple words properly.

Session 5: Communication Styles —

Assertiveness
You have learnt about the different types of
communication. In this lesson we will learn about
a new concept ‘communication styles’. A ‘style’ of
communication includes verbal and non-verbal skills.
Using the correct style of communication makes your
communication more effective as others will be able to
clearly understand what you say and respond to you in
a better way.

Important Communication Styles

Have you ever wondered why you feel good after some
conversations but some conversations make you feel
angry? This may be due to the different communication
styles used. Table 1.10 shows some of the most
commonly used communication styles.

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 Table 1.10 Communication Styles
Aggressive Passive/ Passive-Aggressive Assertive
Submissive

What does it mean?

• Winning at any • Avoiding conflict • Trying to get • Respecting others
cost • Giving others your own way and maintaining
• Not respecting control without taking self-respect
others • Losing self-respect responsibility
• Hurting yourself
and others
Examples
• Not caring about • Keeping quiet and • Indirect ways of • Expressing yourself
other’s views or not expressing showing anger, while listening to
needs yourself such as not doing others point
• Dismissing, • Accepting even a task and lying • Understanding
ignoring or wrong remarks about it other’s views and
insulting others from others • Resentment problems
• Shouting, using • Saying sorry even • Talking ill about • Disagreeing or
strong language, when it is not your others in their saying ‘no’ without
and not listening mistake absence hurting others
to others
Results in
• Ill-feeling, anger, • Hurt-feelings, loss • Not getting the • Effective
breakdown of of confidence, results you communication
communication misunderstandings want from the • You are able to
communication, understand others
bad feelings for much better and
everybody they too can
understand you

As you can see, assertive communication is most

effective. Let’s learn more about using this style.

Assertive Communication
Being assertive is a healthier communication style. It
involves
• expressing your views without disrespecting
others or yourself,
• respecting others,

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 • communicating your opinion and wishes clearly,
• being open to other’s points of view, and
• finding a balance between your needs and
other’s needs.

Advantages of Assertive Communication

Being assertive
• builds self-confidence,
• builds self-respect,
• prevents you from saying words or doing actions
that you may regret later,
• makes you and others feel positive,
• makes sure that everyone expresses their ideas
and meets the needs of all, and
• helps you to become a more confident worker and
a better communicator.

Practicing Assertive Communication

Practice using the seven actions shown in Table 1.11 to
become more assertive in your communication.

Table 1.11 Practicing Assertive Communication

7 Actions for Assertive Communication

Be confident
When someone walks into a room smartly and with confidence, he or she gets the attention
of others easily.
Tips
• Show confidence in the way you sit, stand or walk
• Keep your shoulders straight and your chin up
• Practise maintaining eye contact
• Control signs of physical nervousness, such as biting nails
Speak slowly and clearly
Talking too fast will not give people the time to listen and understand you. If someone is
accusing you wrongly or shouting and behaving aggressively, stay calm and reply slowly
and firmly.
Tips
• Use a clear, calm voice
• Be loud enough to be heard but don’t shout
• If people aren’t noticing you, say ‘Excuse me’
• Don’t be apologetic when you haven’t done anything wrong
• Make short and correct speeches

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 Dress correctly
People make judgments based on how we look. Dress neatly, smartly and correctly according
to the place and occasion
Tips
• Looking confident and attractive can change others’ minds
• People may not listen to you seriously if you are not dressed properly
• People respect you when you are dressed properly
Be honest
Being honest builds trust and results in open communication
Tips
• Express your thoughts clearly and honestly
• Ask yourself what you actually want or what will work best for you before agreeing to
something that is not convenient
Don’t be aggressive
Getting angry, shouting, using bad language and pushing is not assertive communication
Tips
• Don’t confuse assertiveness with aggression
• When faced with an unfair situation, stay calm and try to understand the real problem
• Insist on your rights by using logic and politeness
Speak up
Express your thoughts, ideas and opinions without worrying about other people’s reactions
Tips
• Don’t be silent if you have something to say
• Share your feelings
• Practise expressing your opinion
Learn to say ‘NO’
If you do not feel right doing something, then do not do it. It is okay to refuse.
Tips
• Respect yourself
• Don’t let others take advantage of you
• Agreeing with things you know are not correct may harm everybody

We will learn more about how to say ‘no’ while still

maintaining good communication in the next lesson.

The teacher will facilitate these activities by showing you the

e-learning module for this lesson via http://www.psscive.ac.in/
Employability_Skills.html. The module will include videos and
e-content for the above topics as well as detailed instructions for
some activities below.
Initial thinking activity
After watching the initial video in the e-learning lesson on
communication styles, write answer for the following question
— Why is assertive communication important?

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