COmMUNIcation and presentation skills



Course Syllable – Autumn 2008









              You are what you say





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


  * Introduction of basic aspects of communication

  * Nonverbal communication
  * Verbal communication, analysis of communication habits

  Support and development of
  * adequate self-assertiveness (assertiveness, aggression, manipulation)
  * negotiation strategies,
  * active listening,
  * constructive criticisms,

  communication in front of the group, preparing and having presentation

  giving and receiving feedback

  basics of transactional analysis




ABC Reference



·  Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M. (2005). Social Psychology. Pearson Education, Ltd.

New Jersey: 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.

Content of the Course and Time Schedule


24. September       Introduction, verbal & non-verbal communication

                             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 non-seriously, short conversations, pair-work


8. October             Nonverbal work with group, verbal self-presentation

                                       Form: verbal creativity exercise, making motto, 3 minutes in
front of a camcorder

                                       Homework: reading Aronson et al.: chapter on verbal and
non-verbal communication

                             Feedback, Listening

                                      Form: brainstorming – evaluation sheet, giving and receiving
feedback, reflexion


22. October           Assertiveness, communication Games

                                       Form: playing (training) with mimics, gestures and
intonation, assertiveness exercises,

                                      communication bad habits and fouls, analyses, discussion

Topics: interpersonal space, saying NO, traffic lights of assertiveness,

Homework: observing exercise


5. November          Enhancing vocabulary, communication exercises

                                       Form: feedback, reaction to criticism, experience
techniques, role play


19. November        Coping with stage fright, relaxation


3. December          Presentation, feedback

                                       Form: lecture, preparation and training: group presentation,

                                       Form: 3 minutes of fame in front of the camcorder, analyses
of presentations according to given

                                      criteria, feedback, reflexion, short discussion,

                                       Homework: prepare a presentation, think about it, visuals

17. December         Games people play

                                       Homework: reading E. Berne, preparing final paper


+ Special additional class with visiting lecturer on time management