PED 111: Communication and Study Skills

COURSE AIM

The Communication and Study Skills syllabus aims to equip students with ample skills for academic and professional communication and provide knowledge of relevant techniques of studying for tests or exams.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate mastery of the various study and communication skills
• Explain the appropriate communications strategies and techniques
• Use English in speech and writing
• Compose various categories of business letters
• Design a study plan
• Develop better reading & vocabulary skills
• Apply successful test taking strategies
• Develop effective strategies to better utilize class time
• Analyse and apply individual learning styles
• Work in an online learning environment for greater University success
• Analyse and apply critical thinking techniques
• Demonstrate effective communication within the college/University setting

Course Content

Communication

Definitions of communication

Verbal and non-verbal communication

Written and oral communication

Communication process

Communication in organizations

Communication barriers

Effective communication

Listening

Public presentations

Communication Theory

Definitions of language

Concept of communication

Contexts of human communication

Media and channels of communication

Mental processes in communication

Barriers to communication

Facilitators of communication

Using the Library

Locating books, journals and articles

Accessing literature on the internet

Judging the relevance of books and articles

Using reference books e.g. encyclopaedia

Compiling an annotated bibliography

Effective Reading

Skimming

Scanning

Note taking

Note making

Parts of speech

Definition

Parts (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs pronouns etc)

Punctuations

Sentences

Prefixes and suffixes

Paragraphing

Business letters

Definition

Formats

Types of business letters

Circular letter

Memorandums

Notices

Reports

Definitions

Types of reports

Formal and informal reports

Memo reports

Meetings

Definitions

Types of meetings

Agenda

Minutes

Duties of a chairperson and the secret arty

Interviews

Definitions

Types of interviews

How to conduct interviews

• Curriculum Vitae
• Studying Strategies
• Introductions/Blackboard/Connect/Email
• What is to study
• Reading techniques (Skimming, Scanning)
• Note taking
• Summarising the text
• Preparation for the exams
• Memory and forgetting
• Writing the Academic essays/ Assignments
• Library & Campus Resources (Learning Communities)
• Time Management
• Learning Styles & Effective Studying
• Test and Exams Taking Skills
• Staying Healthy Mentally & Physically
• Registration Information
• Tools for Academic Success
• Your Major & Your Career

Teaching approach

3 Hours of lectures per week

2 hours Seminar per week

I hour of tutorial per week

ASSESSMENT

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT                                         40%

 3 Assignments per year                                  20%

3 Tests                                                             20%

Tutorials                                                          10%

FINAL EXAMINATION                                                    60%

            Total                                                                                       100%

PRESCRIBED READINGS

Murphy. R. (2004). English Grammar in Use. 3^rd Edition. Cambridge University Press. The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK.

Staton. N. (2004). Mastering Communication. 4^th Edition. Palgrave macmillan. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hamshire RG21 6XS

Klarer, M. (2007). Meetings auf Englisch. Heidelberg: Redline.

Hackman, M. Z., & Johnson, C. E. (2009). Leadership: A communication perspective (5th ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

www.citethisforme.com

http://howtostudy.org/ 

http://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_pp_studyskills/

http://www.palgrave.com/studentstudyskills/page/index/

 Allen, J. P. B., and Corder, S. (1978). The Edinburgh Course in Applied Linguistics, Volumes 1, 2, 3, Oxford University Press. Oxford.

Druce, E. And Tyson. H. (2007). English A1: Course companion. Oxford University Press. Great Claredon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP. Swan. M. (2005). Practical English Usage. Oxford University Press. Great claredon Street, Oxford.