Name and Surname:
Date:
Communication skills worksheet
Activity 1.- Compare and summarize the introductory video "Ten ways to have a better conversation" and
the web page called "Top 10 ways to improve your communications skills" Write your comments and
conclusions in this worksheet. Besides that, you must focus on the non verbal communication of the girl (her
eyes, ears, mouth, mind...) and guess what she wants to transmit to the audience.
Activity 2.- Comment what you see in this picture.
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Activity 3.- A business man has just turned off the lights in the store when a man appeared and demanded
money. The owner opened a cash register. The contents of the cash register were scooped up, and the man
sped away. A member of the police force was notified promptly.
Statements about the story:
1. A man appeared after the owner turned off his store lights. T F ?
2. The robber was a man. T F ?
3. The man did not demand money. T F ?
4. The man who opened the cash register was the owner. T F ?
5. The storeowner scooped up the contents of the cash register and sped away. T F ?
6. Someone opened a cash register. T F ?
7. After the man who demander the money scooped up the contents of the cash register, he ran T F ?
away.
8. While the cash register contained money, the story does not state how much. T F ?
9. The robber demanded money of the owner. T F ?
10. The story concerns a series of events in which only three persons are referred to: the owner of T F ?
the store, a man who demanded money, and a member of the police force.
Activity 4.- Write your own conclusions about what communication is.
Activity 5.1.- What does "affirming" mean?
What are some examples of affirming statements?
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Activity 5.2.- Do you remember what the girl said about open-ended questions?
The interview.
STUDENT A: Imagine you are a candidate of a company which is recruiting someone. Your partner will ask
you what your dream job is. He/she maybe will ask you about your past so you should think if you have to be
honest or not.
STUDENT B: Imagine you are the Human Resources Manager of a company which is recruiting someone for
your partner's dream job. Ask your partner what his/her dream job. Don't forget to get as much information
about your candidate as you can.
Here you have some useful vocabulary and collocation examples that will help you to ask/answer the
questions.
Vocabulary related to work
To have a challenging, monotonous/repetitive, rewarding, motivating, tedious job.
Collocations
1. I'm a manager. I'm in charge of the sales department. I have to deal with some very
difficult clients. I'm also responsible for publicity. I'm off work at the moment. I'm on
maternity leave.
2. I'm part or a team. I always work with other people. I have the opportunity to travel,
which is something I appreciate. I have good prospects in this job. I think I can go far. I'm
hoping to get promoted to head of department next year.
3. I'm hoping to get a rise. I think my salary is very low. It's a temporally job. I'm only on
a shot-term contract, so I have no job security.
4. I was sacked/fired from my last job. My boss didn't like the way I worked. Now I'm self-
employed. I run my own business and I'm much happier. I only work part-time, from
10.00 to 2.00, and in the afternoon I'm doing an Open University course.
5. I was made redundant. There were too many workers and the company was losing
money. I've been out of my work for three months now, but I hope to find a job soon. I've
been doing some voluntary work at the local community centre. It's unpaid, but at least I'm
getting some more work experience.
Possible useful questions:
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Activity 5.3.- What do you think it means to listen actively?
Write vocabulary related to feelings:
If you were a storeowner and a client is having one or more of these feelings, how much do you think the
client can learn?
Here you have a useful grammar box that will help you to think about your answer:
Grammar related to unreal conditionals
Second conditional sentences: if + past simple, would/wouldn't + infinitive
Use the second conditional sentences to talk about hypothetical or improbable situations in the
present/future.
If there was the storeowner, I would try to relax the client.
If the customer was furious, I would find out why he/she is angry and I would try to
solve his/her problem.
Third conditional sentences: if + past perfect, would/wouldn't have +past participle
Use the third conditional sentences to talk about a hypothetical past situation and its consequence.
If the storeowner hadn't spoken in a rude way, the client wouldn't have leave the shop so
disappointed.
Activity 5.4. - What are nonverbal messages?
Can you describe your classmates' feelings by describing the attitude of their bodies ?
Here you have a grammar box that will help you to describe your thoughts.
Grammar: distancing
1. We often use seem and appear to give information without stating that we definitely know it is true,
and in this way distancing ourselves from the information.
We can use It seems/appears + that + clause, or subject + seem/appear + infinitive.
It seems that she is paying attention because she is writing many notes.
He seems to be bored because of the way he is sitting down.
2. We use It would seem/appear + that + clause to distance us even further from the information, and
to make it sound less sure. This is more formal than It seems/appears...
It would seem / appear (that) Manolo had been amused because he has been raising his
eyebrows.
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Do you know any different culture that have different styles of body language?
Activity 5.5.- Express thought and feelings. How do we do that?
Think about honesty, speaking clearly, differentiate between facts, beliefs and feelings...
Activity 5.6. - Have you ever thought about communicating without making other feel wrong?
How we could do this?
Activity 6. - The speed dating.
You are a single man/woman and you have decided to meet new people. Your friend told you that there are
"Speed datings". Speed dating is an organized form of matchmaking that focuses on meeting a lot of people in
a short period of time. You will have only three minutes to meet your prospective partner. Ask him/her about
their interests, feeling, expectative.... and complete this template. Finally, answer the question below.
Name of the candidate:
Have he/she
done it?
Skill Example
Yes No
Affirming
Open-ended questions
Active Listening
Nonverbal
communication
Express thoughts and
feelings
Communicate without
making
Others fell "wrong".
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Would you have a second date with him/her? Why?
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