COmMUNIcation and presentation skills Course Syllable – Autumn 2006 Teacher Mgr. & Mgr. Zdeňka Vykoukalová (zvykouka@fss.muni.cz) Course Summary The course is aimed at everyone, who wants to improve and develop their communication and interaction skills, i.e. it is focused on these abilities: to present (comprehensively), to argument, to discuss, to negotiate and to listen. These abilities will be developed through learning experience in two following ways: through the improvement of skills necessary for more effective, balanced and self-confident conduct and through development individual work in group (or with group). And as the most effective – although not the easiest – way of achieving development leads through personal experience followed by the analysis of ones performance, regular usage of camcorder (and possibly camera) will constitute an integral part of the seminar. It will enable the participants to obtain immediate and effective feedback of their communication progresses. We will focus on following topics: Objectives o Introduction of basic aspects of communication o Nonverbal communication o Verbal communication, analysis of communication habits o Support and development of o adequate self-assertiveness (assertiveness, aggression, manipulation) o negotiation strategies, o active listening, o constructive criticisms, o communication in front of the group, preparing and having presentation o giving and receiving feedback o basics of transactional analysis Content of the Course and Time Schedule 26. September Introduction Introduction of the teacher, content and form of the course, mutual expectations and rules Introduction of the participants, verbal and non-verbal communication Form: Mainly not serious, short conversations, pair work 3. October Nonverbal work with group, verbal self-presentation Form: verbal creativity exercise, making motto, 1 minute in front of a camcorder (TV?) 10. October Feedback, Listening Form: brainstorming – evaluation sheet, giving and receiving feedback, reflexion 17. October Communication Games Form: playing (training) with mimics, gestures and intonation 24. October Assertiveness Topics: interpersonal space, saying NO, traffic lights of assertiveness, Homework 31. October Assertiveness II Form: assertiveness exercises, communication bad habits and fouls, analyses, discussion 7. November Communication exercises Form: feedback, reaction to criticism, experience techniques, role play 14. November Presentation Form: lecture, preparation and training: group presentation, Homework 21. November Presentation II Form: one minute of fame in front of the camcorder 28. November Feedback Form: analyses of presentations according to given criteria, feedback, reflexion, short discussion, Homework: reading E. Berne 5. December Games people play 12. December Games people play II 19. December Closure Looking back to passed days&lessons&experience, closing of all topics, coming back to the basics & closure Note: attendance necessary ABC Reference · Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M. (2005). Social Psychology. Pearson Education, Ltd. New Persey: p. 93-103 Classics of social psychology, recommended chapter deals with the topic of social perception and nonverbal behaviour. (available in the faculty library) · Berne, E. (1970). Games People Play. UK: Penguin Books. Readable and very useful book for examining of communication patterns of everyone and people around you. Contains basics of transactional analysis, i.e. rather rewarding tool for analyses of communication patterns. · Cotrell, S. (2003). Skills for Success. Palgrave Macmillan. England 2003 Book, a kind of exercise book with exercises, focused on students in their first years of study. Contains plenty of interesting pieces of advice on how to manage them. Clear and simple American way.