BACHELOR OF ARTS

(BAG)

ASSIGNMENT

(For July 2019 and January 2020 Sessions)

Course Code: BEGAE-182

English Communication Skills

Name: H. VANLALTHAFAMKIMA

Enrolment No.: SECTION

195646891
-A

1. Write short notes of about 150 words on any four of the following:

i) What are the barriers to communication? How would you remove them in
your communication? 5
Answer- Barriers to communication -
Physical barriers to non-verbal communication. Not being able to see the
non-verbal cues, gestures, posture and general body language can make
communication less effective.
Psychological barriers, for example someone with social anxiety and/or
low self-esteem may be too distracted about how they are perceived when
talking with a superior.
Emotional barriers. Some people may find it difficult to express their
opinions on such as politics, religion, disabilities (mental and physical),
sexuality and racism.
Jargon and acronyms. Companies often have their own jargon and
acronyms which new employees may struggle with.
Lack of attention, interest and distractions to the person listening.
Differences in perception and viewpoint.
Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties.
Differences in language and unfamiliar accents.
Expectations and prejudices which may lead to stereotyping.
Cultural differences. The norms of social interaction vary greatly in
different cultures, as do the way in which emotions are expressed.
The way to remove barriers in communication –
In order to remove hindrances in the way of communication the
following steps are worth consideration:
Clarify Ideas before Communication: The person sending the
communication should be very clear in his mind about what he wants to say.
He should know the objective of his message and, therefore, he should arrange
his thoughts in a proper order.
Communicate According to the Need of the Receiver: The sender of
the communication should prepare the structure of the message not according
to his own level or ability but he should keep in mind the level, understanding
or the environment of the receiver.
Consult Others before Communication: At the time of planning the
communication, suggestions should be invited from all the persons concerned.
Its main advantage will be that all those people who are consulted at the time
of preparing the communication plan will contribute to the success of the
communication system.
Be Aware of Language, Tone and Content of Message: The sender
should take care of the fact that the message should be framed in clear and
beautiful language. The tone of the message should not injure the feelings of
the receiver. As far as possible the contents of the message should be brief and
excessive use of technical words should be avoided.
Convey Things of Help and Value to the Listener: The subject matter of
the message should be helpful to the receiver. The need and interest of the
receiver should specially be kept in mind. Communication is more effective in
such a situation.
Ensure Proper Feedback: The purpose of feedback is to find out
whether the receiver has properly understood the meaning of the information
received. In the face-to- face communication, the reaction on the face of the
receiver can be understood. But in case of written communication or some
other sort of communications some proper method of feedback should be
adopted by the sender.

ii) Discuss the role of body language in communication. 5

Answer- Body language is used in nearly every aspect of daily life, and
observing someone can sometimes tell you a lot about how a person is feeling
and what is on his or her mind. For example, in poker, people try to limit their
body language for this exact reason. Without saying anything, body language
can often get a person's point across, and this article will discuss how body
language became a necessary part of our communication pallet and why it
continues to be that way.
Body language is a form of non-verbal communication, which includes
multiple actions and mannerisms, such as:
Facial Expressions
Gestures
Posture
Head Movement
Eye Contact
All of these are universal to all humans, and people can perform them
consciously or subconsciously to convey their thoughts and feelings towards
countless things. In fact, body language is believed to constitute about half of
what we are trying to communicate. However, this can depend greatly on
context; for example, a person does not always need to verbally say "no" to
communicate that something is wrong or that they disagree with what a person
is saying. Instead, he or she can shake their head from side to side, to
communicate the same thing. Nonetheless, we all use various forms of body
language in communication every single day, which is then interpreted by
others. If a student is slouching in his or her chair in class and is making
indirect eye contact, this will signal to the instructor that they are bored. It can
also be used to enhance our verbal communication skills, and they often
complement each other very well. For instance, if someone is asking for
directions in a store on where to find a product and an employee merely says
"over there," this information is not entirely helpful to the customer because it
is too vague. At that point, the employee can be more specific with the
location of the item by stating what aisle or department it is in; however, more
often than not they will also gesture and point in the direction the person
should be headed in. Even if the employee was not very specific, and they said
"over there" while also pointing, it still would be more helpful than the
original scenario with no body language at all.
iii) What makes a group discussion successful? 5
Answer- A group discussion is simply a method instrumental in judging the
team spirit, leadership qualities, out of the box thinking, and other managerial
qualities in an individual. In a layman’s language, a group discussion is a
discussion involving a group of around seven to eight participants.
Tips for a Successful Group Discussion -
The first and the foremost tip for an individual to perform well in a GD
is to learn the art of participation. Don’t expect others to force you to speak.
Take the initiative, participate in the discussion and share your ideas with
others. Never shout in a group discussion and always wait for your turn to
speak. Remember it’s a discussion, not a fighting ground. Be polite but firm.
Try to take the initiative. Don’t wait for the others to start the discussion.
Always volunteer yourself and start the discussions in an extremely confident
manner. Introduce yourself and your team members and then start with the
topic but one thing to remember here is that one must initiate the Group
Discussion only when he or she is well versed with the topic. Don’t take the
risk if you yourself are not very clear about your thoughts.
A leader is the one who actually gives the group discussion a direction
and guides other team members when they seem to be lost or confused. Like a
true leader, an individual must try his level best to refrain from personal
favours. Don’t only ask your acquaintance to speak, give equal opportunity to
other participants as well. As the leader of the group, he must ensure that the
discussion does not end up in fighting and reaches a conclusion.
One must speak only if he is well prepared with the topic. Don’t just
speak for the sake of points or marks; speak only when you are absolutely sure
about what you are speaking. Never depend on guess works in group
discussions as it sometimes can seriously go against you. Avoid using slangs
or crack jokes in between the discussions as it is considered highly
unprofessional.
Never be rigid in group discussions. Always keep in mind that the other
person is also as learned as you. Always listen to what he is saying and then
only respond. Be a good and a patient listener. Don’t just simply draw
conclusions as there is always a room for discussions. Debate logically and
sensibly and try to take everyone along with you.
Read a lot and always keep your eyes and ears open. Always begin your
day with the newspaper and know what is happening around you. An
individual must be aware of the current events to succeed well in a group
discussion.
Be alert always. A participant usually gets around 15 minutes to think
about the topic. You need to think fast and cover as much as you can. Always
take care of your words. The content has to be sensible, crisp and well
supported with examples or real life situations. Don’t adopt a laidback attitude
or yawn in between group discussions.

iv) Giving examples (not from the course material), discuss the difference
between Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, and Hyponyms. 5
Answer-
Homonyms
Homonyms are words that have the same spelling and sound, but a number of
different meanings.
Examples
Bank (as a financial institution) and the Bank (of a river).
Bark (for a dog) and the Bark (of a tree).
Bear (to carry) and Bear (an animal).
Lead (to conduct) and Lead (metal).
Saw (the past form of "see") and Saw (as a power tool for cutting wood)
etc.

Homophones
"Homo" means "same" whereas "phone" means "sound". Therefore,
homophones are words that have the same sound but differ in meaning and
spelling.
Examples
To, too and two.
Blew (past form of blow) and blue (colour).
Son and sun.
See and sea.
Weather and whether.
Homographs
Homographs are words that have the same spelling but differ meaning and
sometimes pronunciation.
Examples
Present (to introduce formally) and present (a gift).
Refuse (garbage) and refuse (to decline a request).

Hyponyms
A hyponyms is a word whose meaning is included in the meaning of another
more general word. In other words, it is the relationship between two words in
which the meaning of one word includes the meaning of the other word.
Examples
Spoon is a hyponyms of cutlery. Cutlery is a more general word which
comprises spoon, fork and knife.
Red, blue and yellow are the hyponyms of color.
Bus is a hyponyms of vehicle.
Dog is a hyponyms of animal.
SECTION B
2.
i) You have been selected to a training programme organised by your
company where colleagues have come from different parts of the country.
Write a dialogue where you accost a colleague, greet him/her, introduce
yourself and talk about your role in the organisation. You may end the
conversation with appropriate pleasantries. 10
Answer-
Me: Hi there, it is Mayank, right?
Colleague: Hi, yes. You must be Shikhar. You have recently joined the
company, right?
Me: Yes indeed. The group manager Mukul told me that you would be my
mentor for the first four months of the training.
Colleague: Oh right. I will be training you on the digital marketing module.
Do you have any prior experience with the same?
Me: I have a basic knowledge of how SEO work and have done content
writing for several firms. Now keen to expand into a role of digital marketing
specialist.
Colleague: Awesome. I have been working for six years in this domain so
should be able to guide you well.
Me: Thanks a lot, Mayank. This is my first day only. Are there any formalities
I have to complete, apart from those told by the HR?
Colleague: I think you should be fine. I hope you know where the cafeteria is?
And have you got your transport stuff all sorted out? They don’t allow anyone
to sit in the shuttle unless the name is in the roster
Me: Oh no, I haven’t. Thanks for informing. I will do it during recess.
Colleague: Yes, do that. Where do you put up at?
Me: I stay in Noida, sector 137.
Colleague: Gosh! That’s quite far from Gurgaon! You: I agree
Colleague: It must be quite tiring for you to commute all the way from Noida
daily?
Me: Indeed it is, but there were no job opportunities in Noida. All job offers I
received were from Gurgaon only.
Colleague: Okay. Let’s see! If commuting becomes too much of a hassle then
I can set you up with one of my friends. He is looking for a PG partner.
Me: That’s cool. Let’s see how this travelling bit goes. Colleague: Yes. Do
you have any queries? Ask away!
Me: I haven’t received my employee ID yet. When will that be?
Colleague: It takes a few days. You see Shalini sitting over there? She joined
a couple of days back and still hasn’t received her. You can talk to her and
both can get it done from the facilities department.
Me: Sounds good. Also, what is the working atmosphere here like? I just want
a heads-up before I know how to approach people!
Colleague: Well, our supervisor Priyanka is all cool as long as the work is
going good. But if a client feedback is not so flattering then she can lose it.
Rest, all other members of the team are chilled out. You won’t have any
problem gelling with them.
Me: Ah, that is great. Okay, do we also have to come on Saturdays?
Colleague: That happens rarely. I can’t quite remember the last time we came
on a Saturday. We do stretch on some days when there are urgent client
deliverables.
Me: Can you just brief me about the modules I would be covering?
Colleague: Sure, there will be seven modules during the training- SEO, SEM,
Web Analytics, Email marketing, SMM, Content Marketing and Mobile
Marketing.
Me: Great! I hope to learn a lot.
Colleague: You will also be given access to online courses at Lynda so that
you can learn additional stuff at your own pace.
Me: Wow! That is amazing. By the way, how is the food at the cafeteria?

Colleague: It is quite okay, but we get bored of it after some time. We have
the option of ordering from nearby outlets and there is a tie-up with Swiggy so
that all deliveries are free.
Me: Perfect. Food should be good, don’t you agree? Colleague: Haha! It is,
don’t worry.
Me: Will I be formally introduced to other team members?
Colleague: There will be a grand party at Hyatt for all the new joinees in this
quarter. You will get to introduce yourself there. It will be loads of fun!
Chillax!
Me: Thank you!
Colleague: You’re welcome. Should we get started with the training?
Me: Absolutely. Let’s begin!

ii) You have received an invitation by the secretary of the youth club of which
you are a member to participate in a small discussion on ‘kindness to
animals’. Write a letter of regret giving at least three reasons for your not
being able to attend the programme. 10 Answer-
To
The Secretary, Youth Club Rewari.

Subject: - Apology letter for not being able to attend the programme.

Sir,

I got your invitation letter two days before for participating in a small
discussion on ‘kindness to animals’.

Sir, I am very sorry to say that I will not be able to attend small discussion on
‘kindness to animals’ in our club due to the terrible exams ensuing up. I am,
now a day busy with packed schedule. I have some family obligations that I
have to attend to which are urgent and cannot be left to anyone else. I got free
time, so I thought of informing you.

Once again, I apologize for the same.

Date: 27.03.2020 Yours Sincerely,

Sena Hmar
Youth Club Rewari.

SECTION C
3. What are the characteristics of a conversation? What is the difference
between a conversation and other speech events? Write in about 350 words.
20
Answer- Here are a few concepts so we can find common ground to have
more meaningful and useful conversations:

a) Be Fully Present in the Conversation

Finding common ground requires listening; you need to be fully present in the
moment. Setting boundaries that allow you to be wholeheartedly engaged in
the conversation, not distracted by your phone or another problem you’re
thinking about in your head changes the nature of how you listen.

b) Realize and Vocalize the Things You Agree On

It’s difficult to find common ground when we focus on the things we disagree
about. But if we take a step back, we realize that despite our differences, we
actually agree about more things than we disagree about.
For example, we all believe in human dignity. We all agree that what’s best
for people is what’s best. We may not always agree on what’s best for people.
But we can all agree that what’s best for people is what’s best.

c) Seek Understanding More than Being Right

If both people are more concerned about being right than they are
understanding one another, no one wins. However, when we approach the
conversation in a posture of trying to truly understand the other person; we
create a path toward finding a solution. Creating the environment for a
common ground conversation requires laying down your need to be right.
d) Honor the Other Person
Honor isn’t really a concept we use when talking about personal relationships
anymore. And yet, we all long to feel important and valued. We must
remember that conversation is about more than the topic that is discussed.
When we seek to honor the other person, despite their brokenness and flaws, it
allows us to not only create a more pleasant conversation, but add value to
their lives.

e) Commit to Communicate with Kindness

Kindness is more than being nice or defaulting to the other person’s point of
view. It’s about bringing goodness into the conversation. Even if it’s a
difficult conversation with differing points of view, there is a way to be
kindhearted in the way you say things or how you respond.

Difference-
A conversation is communication by two or more people, or by one's
self. Conversations are the ideal form of communication in some respects,
since they allow people with different views on a topic to learn from each
other. A speech, on the other hand, is an oral presentation by one person
directed at a group. Those engaging in conversation naturally relate the other
speaker's statements to themselves, and insert themselves (or some degree of
relation to themselves, ranging from the replier's opinions or points to actual
stories about themselves) into their replies. For a successful conversation, the
partners must achieve a workable balance of contributions. A successful
conversation includes mutually interesting connections between the speakers
or things that the speakers know. For this to happen, those engaging in
conversation must find a topic on which they both can relate to in some sense.
In a public speech -- unlike a conversation -- there is a clear distinction
between the speaker and the audience. The speaker stands at the front of a
room, outside space or auditorium. She often stands or sits above the audience
on an elevated stage. Sometimes she uses a microphone and a podium to
communicate her message. The format affords an air of legitimacy or even
power to the speaker; the speaker, not the audience, decides what content to
include.
Public speaking and conversation have long been linked in the American
public consciousness. Nineteenth century U.S. Congressman James Winans
introduced the idea that public speaking is a form of extended conversation.
Winans argued that an effective speech connects with the audience on a
personal level. In fact, a public speech can operate something like a
conversation between the speaker and the audience -- but conversation
happens informally and requires little to no advanced planning or preparation.
Public speakers must abide by many more rules and guidelines.

4. As a good reader, what are the four levels of meaning you must be aware
of? Discuss in about 300 words, giving examples of each. 20
Answer- The goal of reading determines the best way to read the material in
question. If we’re reading for entertainment, we’re going to read a lot
differently than if we’re reading to build a rocket ship.
A thorough understanding of the levels of reading is necessary before we
can improve our reading skills. There are four levels of reading. They are
thought of as levels because you can’t reach the higher levels without a firm
understanding of the previous one — they are cumulative.

a) Elementary Reading
The first level of reading is elementary reading, which is what we learned to
do in elementary school. Most of us never get beyond this level. Other names
might be rudimentary reading, basic reading or initial reading; any one of
these terms serves to suggest that as one masters this level one passes from
nonliterary to at least beginning literacy. In mastering this level, one learns the
rudiments of the art of reading, receives basic training in reading, and acquires
initial reading skills.
b) Inspectional Reading
The second level of reading is inspectional reading, which can be thought of
us intelligently skimming a book in a limited amount of time. Not only does
this prime our brain with the material in the book, but it helps us determine if
we want to read the entire book.
Adler writes:
Another name for this level might be skimming or pre-reading.
However, we do not mean the kind of skimming that is characterized by
casual or random browsing through a book. Inspectional reading is the art of
skimming systematically.
The point of inspectional reading is to examine the “surface” of the
book.
Adler guides us:
Whereas the question that is asked at the first level is “What does the
sentence say?” the question typically asked at this level is “What is the book
about?” That is a surface question; others of a similar nature are “What is the
structure of the book?” or “What are its parts?”
Inspectional reading is underappreciated by a lot of readers because they
see it as a waste of time.
A lot of people like to read linearly. They pick up a book, turn to page
one, and plow steadily through it without ever reading so much as the table of
contents. “They are,” writes Adler, “thus faced with the task of achieving a
superficial knowledge of the book at the same time that they are trying to
understand it.” This makes reading more difficult, not less.

c) Analytical Reading
The third level of reading is called analytical reading, which goes deeper than
inspectional reading. If your goal in reading is entertainment or acquiring
information, analytical reading is not necessary. However, if you are reading
to improve understanding, analytical reading is entirely necessary.
It is both a more complex and a more systematic activity than either of
the two levels of reading discussed so far. … Analytical reading is thorough
reading, complete reading, or good reading— the best reading you can do. If
inspectional reading is the best and most complete reading that is possible
given a limited time, then analytical reading is the best and most complete
reading that is possible given unlimited time. The analytical reader must ask
many, and organized questions of what he is reading. Analytical reading is
always intensely active. On this level of reading, the reader grasps a book—
the metaphor is apt— and works at it until the book becomes his own.

d) Syntopical Reading
The fourth and most difficult level of reading is syntopical reading.
It is the most complex and systematic type of reading of all. It makes
very heavy demands on the reader, even if the materials he is reading are
themselves relatively easy and unsophisticated. Another name for this level
might be comparative reading. When reading syntopically, the reader reads
many books, not just one, and places them in relation to one another and to a
subject about which they all revolve. But mere comparison of texts is not
enough. … With the help of the books read, the syntopical reader is able to
construct an analysis of the subject that may not be in any of the books. It is
obvious, therefore, that syntopical reading is the most active and effortful kind
of reading.

5. A group of four students have been given the topic “How to abolish child
labour in our country” for group discussion. You are part of this group. Write
out the group discussion. Use items from the vocabulary section to answer
appropriately.
Answer- Child labour is a serious social and economic problem in our
country. This GD guide attempts to bring before you some statistics,
information on some child labour laws, some quote, possible Group
Discussion topics on Child Labour, its causes and steps taken to curb.
In 1979, the Indian government formed the Gurupadswamy Committee
to find about child labour and means to tackle it. The Child Labour
Prohibition and Regulation Act was enacted based on the recommendations of
the committee in 1986. A National Policy on Child Labour was formulated in
1987 to focus on rehabilitating children working in hazardous occupations.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment had implemented around 100
industry-specific National Child Labour Projects to rehabilitate the child
workers since 1988.
The Indian government has enacted a plethora of acts, laws,
organizations, and institutions to combat the overwhelming prominence of
child labour. Some of the initiatives include the Child Labour Prohibition and
Regulation Act which is a piece of legislation that prohibits the engagement of
children in certain employment (mostly in dangerous conditions) and
regulates the conditions of work of children; the National Policy on Child
Labour seeks to adopt a sequential approach with focus on rehabilitation of
children working in hazardous occupations & processes in the first instance;
and the Ministry of Labour and employment functions to provide and
supervise a range of policies concerning child labor in India. Furthermore, as
reported by Osment, NGOs such as Care India, Child Rights and You, Global
March against Child Labour have been implemented to combat child labour
through education and accessibility to resources. However, these efforts have
been largely unsuccessful.
Non-governmental organisations - Many NGOs like Bachpan Bachao
Andolan, ChildFund, CARE India, Talaash Association, Child Rights and
You, Global march against child labour, Bundelkhand matra bhumi samaj sevi
sansthan project stop working with child labour in India, GoodWeave, RIDE
India, Childline etc. have been working to eradicate child labour in India.
Child labour has also been a subject of public interest litigations in
Indian courts.