Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

Learning Activity 1
The Elements and Types of English Communication

A. Introduction
In today’s world, everywhere, competition can be seen, so it is necessary
for a student to have good communication skills to achieve success and make
a beautiful career. In the development of communication skills, language
plays an important role for each person. The Study of the English language is
very important because it is used as a medium of communication in most
countries.
To achieve good communication, the students need to know the general
view of communication theory, such as elements and types of English
communication as a basis for good communication. Knowing this topic
hopefully can help students to understand how to deliver and understand ideas
in English. This topic started to identify the senders, receivers, messages,
channels, and feedback. After that, they can learn about types of
communication which consist of verbal and nonverbal communication.
B. Relevance
After participating in these learning activities, students are expected to
have knowledge of the elements and types of communication in English. In
this module, students will complete one learning activity starting with
identifying the senders and receivers, message, channel, and feedback. After
that, the students are expected to identify types of communication which
consist of verbal and non-verbal communication.

C. Lesson Learning Outcome

1. Description
1.1. What is Communication?
The root of the word “communication” in Latin is communicare,
which means to share or to make common (Weekley, 1967). Communication

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Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

is defined as the process of understanding and sharing meaning (Pearson &

Nelson, 2000). Based on this idea, communication is the sending and
receiving of information and can be one-on-one or between groups of people,
and can be face-to-face or through communication devices.
Communication is simply the act of transferring information from
one place, person, or group to another. It is a process of sending and receiving
messages that enable humans to share knowledge, ideas, thoughts,
information, emotions, and attitudes. In communicating, language is a very
important part of transmitting information, especially if we communicate
with people from different countries. Learning a new language requires
learning a new culture, ideas, and attitude by speaking, writing, listening, or
reading.

Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/

There are some problems, especially for Indonesians who have

difficulties communicating in English. Sometimes Problems in
communication happen when the connection is lost between a speaker and a
listener. To minimize this problem, it is important to understand the elements
and types of English communication.

1.2 Elements of Communication

Elements of communication refer to the basic components involved
in an act of communication. These elements are also called the universals of
communication because they are present in every communication act.

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Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

Source: https://rapidresponseblog.wordpress.com/

a. The sender
The communication process begins with the sender. The sender is the
person who shares and sends the message. The sender has some kind of
information — a command, request, question, or idea — that he or she wants
to present to others. For that message to be received, the sender must encode
meaning from the message in a form that can be understood, such as by the
use of a common language, and then transmit it.

b. The message
The second element of the communication process is the message or the
information that is being communicated. It is the subject matter of the
communication which is intended to be passed to the receiver from the
sender. Simply, it is the meaning transferred from the sender’s mind to the
receiver’s mind. This happens mainly in two ways: verbal and non-verbal
methods.

c. The receiver
The person to whom a message is directed is called the receiver. The
receiver tries to understand the message in the best possible manner in
achieving the objectives, is responsible for decoding the meaning of the
message, and provides feedback to the sender.

d. The Channel/ Medium

It is the means by which the message is transmitted (medium), and it is
the tool that the sender and the receiver use to have a successful

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Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

communication. Many categories of communication channels describe their

role in the communication process, including verbal, non-verbal, written, and
digital. This information is transmitted to the receiver through certain
channels, either formal or informal.

e. Feedback
Feedback is the process of ensuring that the receiver has received the
message and understood it in the same sense as the sender meant it. It is
important as it determines whether or not the decoder (receiver) grasped the
intended meaning and whether the communication was successful.

1.3 Types of Communication

Based on communication channels/medium, there are two types of
communication: verbal and non-verbal. Verbal communication is a type of
oral communication wherein the message is transmitted through spoken or
written words. Here, the sender gives words to his feelings, thoughts, ideas,
and opinions and expresses them in the form of speeches, discussions,
presentations, and conversations.

Spoken/ Oral communication Written communication

Source: https://www.istockphoto.com/id/ilustrasi/oral-communication, http://clipart-

library.com/clipart/communication-clipart-51.htm

Verbal communication is further divided into oral communication

and written communication. In Oral communication, the transmission of
orders, messages, suggestions, and speech, through spoken words, then its
feedback is immediate. The media of this form are face-to-face talks, lectures,
interviews, meetings, telephonic talks, conferences, seminars, workshops,
etc. In written communication, written signs or symbols are used to
communicate through printed texts or handwriting. The media of this form
are letters, manuals, fax, telegram, journal, etc.

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Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

Another type of communication is nonverbal communication. It is

sending and receiving wordless messages, which means that it is the
unspoken and unwritten messages focusing on body language, including
facial expression, gestures, eye contact, physical appearance, and body
movement.

Facial Expression:

Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/types-of-nonverbal-communication-2795397

Gestures:

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Eye Contact:

Source: https://www.ebright.my/post/top-5-reasons-why-eye-contact-is-important
In daily life, we respond to thousands of nonverbal cues and behaviors,
including postures, facial expressions, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice.

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Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

Based on Hull (2016), 80% of what we communicate involves our actions

and gestures, versus only 20% being conveyed with the use of words. Non-
verbal communication is the exchange of information or message between
two or more persons without using a word; it follows verbal communication
or uses in a difficult situation when verbal language fails. Although verbal
communication is easier to understand, non-verbal communication is
essential to understand not only a message but also the feeling behind the
message. Then, non-verbal cues can sometimes be more meaningful than the
words themselves.
In simply, verbal communication helps non-verbal ones in understanding
the message, and the usage of non-verbal communication can clarify even the
toughest message to understand. So, we can say that although they have
differences and similarities, they are interrelated and still complete each other
because they go hand in hand.

2. Conclusion
Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one
place, person, or group to another. It is a process of sending and receiving
messages that enable humans to share knowledge, ideas, thoughts,
information, emotions, and attitudes. There are 5 basic elements in
communication:
a. The sender is the person who shares and sends the message and
encodes meaning,
b. The message is the subject matter of the communication which is
intended to be passed to the receiver from the sender,
c. The receiver is who tries to understand the message in the best
possible manner in achieving the objectives, and responsible for
decoding the meaning of the message, and responsible for providing
feedback to the sender,
d. The channel is the means by which the message is transmitted
(medium), and it is the tool the sender and receiver use to
communicate successfully. There are many categories of
communication channels to describe their role in the communication
process, including verbal, non-verbal, written, and digital,

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Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

e. Feedback is important as it determines whether or not the decoder

(receiver) grasped the intended meaning and whether the
communication was successful.

Based on communication channels/ medium, there are two types of

communication: verbal and non-verbal. Verbal communication is a type of
oral communication wherein the message is transmitted through spoken or
written words. At this point, the sender gives words to his feelings, thoughts,
ideas, and opinions and expresses them in the form of speeches, discussions,
presentations, and conversations. Another type of communication is
nonverbal communication. It is sending and receiving wordless messages,
which means that it is the unspoken and unwritten messages focusing on body
language, including facial expression, gestures, eye contact, physical
appearance, and body movement.

3. References
• Boukhatem, A., 2019. Teaching Vocabulary Through Non-Verbal
Communication. Abdalhamid Ibn Badis University of Mostaganem
Faculty of Foreign languages Department of English.
• Christianingsih. 2022. Mengapa Banyak Orang Indonesia Masih Gagap
Berbicara Bahasa Inggris?. Republika.co.id
• Hull R. The art of nonverbal communication in practice. Hear J.
2016;69(5);22-24. doi:10.1097/01.HJ.0000483270.59643.cc
• Pearson, J., & Nelson, P. (2000). An introduction to human
communication: Understanding and sharing (p. 6). Boston, MA:
McGraw-Hill.
• Weekley, E. (1967). An etymological dictionary of modern English (Vol.
1, p. 338). New York, NY: Dover Publications.

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Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

D. Formative Test

Choose the best answer:

1. Communication is ...
a. important as it determines whether or not the decoder (receiver)
grasped the intended meaning and whether the communication was
successful
b. in the act of transferring information from one place, person, or group
to another. It is a process of sending and receiving messages that
enable humans to share knowledge, ideas, thoughts, information,
emotions, and attitudes
c. the person who shares and sends the message and encodes meaning
d. tools for transferring gestures to eye contact

2. Why “good communication” is important?

a. because most Indonesian lack confidence
b. because most Indonesians still do not have adequate English
vocabulary.
c. because English is not our first language as Indonesian people.
d. because in today’s world, everywhere competition can be seen, so it
is necessary for a student to have good communication skills to get
success and make a beautiful career.

3. The elements of communication are ...

a. Sender, message, channel, receiver, and feedback
b. Sender, message, non-verbal, receiver, and feedback
c. Sender, message, channel, receiver, and verbal
d. Verbal and non-verbal communication
e. Sender, message, channel, receiver, and idea

4. Verbal communication is ...

a. a type of oral communication wherein the message is transmitted
through spoken or written words.
b. focusing on body language, including facial expression, gestures, eye
contact, physical appearance, and body movement.

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Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

c. the tool that the sender and the receiver use to have successful
communication
d. tries to understand the message in the best possible manner in
achieving the objectives, is responsible for decoding the meaning of
the message, and responsible for providing feedback to the sender

5. The following statements are examples of non-verbal communication,

except .....
a. facial expression, gestures, eye contact
b. physical appearance, gestures, and body movement.
c. body movement, gestures, and eye contact
d. facial expression, gestures, eye contact, physical appearance, and
body movement.
e. speaking, writing, listening or reading

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Module 1: The Elements and Types of English Communication

Key Answer:
1. b 2. d 3. a 4. a 5. e

E. Feedback
If you feel you have answered the formative test well, compare your
answers with the key answers provided in this module. If the calculation
results show that you have achieved a level of mastery equal to or greater
than 80%, you are welcome to proceed to the next learning activity. To find
out the percentage of mastery of the material in this learning activity 1, you
can simply calculate it using the following formula:
Number of correct answers
x 100 %
All the questions (or 5)
F. Assessment
Assignment 1:
1. Explain the elements of English communication!
2. Explain the types of English communication!

Assessment Rubric
Criteria Score Grade
• accuracy in identifying 5 definitions of elements in
English communication (Senders, Receivers, 5 Very
Message, Chanel, and Feedback) Good
• accuracy in identifying 2 types of English
communication (verbal and non-verbal
communications)
• accuracy in identifying 2-4 definitions of elements
in English communication (Senders, Receivers, 3 Good
Message, Chanel, and Feedback)
• accuracy in identifying 1-2 types of English
communication (verbal and non-verbal
communications)
• accuracy in identifying 1-2 definitions of
elements in English communication (Senders, 2 Poor
Receivers, Message, Chanel, and Feedback)
• accuracy in identifying 0-1 type of English
communication (verbal and non-verbal
communications)

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