Essentials of Language and Communication II

  Reading is a basic life skill. The ability to read well ensures personal fulfilment.  The Importance of Reading: Reading is an important Receptive Skill. It helps to acquire knowledge of the world and that of a language. Reading is an opening to a wide variety of linguistic forms, new grammar and vocabulary. Reading develops imagination, entertains and plays a key role in socialization. Developing Reading Readiness: Pre- reading skills: 1. Learning the sounds of language. 2. Understanding the alphabetic principle - how letters represent sounds. 3. Listening to Oral language and Vocabulary. 4. Listening to others read. Note: The right exposure, practice in the use of words and language , adequate cognitive (understanding) development, will help to acquire reading. Methods of Learning Reading: The Phonic Method stresses on letter- sound correspondence. This helps beginners understand how letters are linked to sounds (phonemes). Patterns of letter- sounds correspond to spelling. This kn

 Good communication requires good listening skills. Good listening leads to easy communication.  Define the process of listening. The process of listening involves: hearing decoding comprehending retaining  responding Stages of Listening  Stage 1 : Start with a message Stage 2 : Transmitter encodes the message Stage 3 : Basic Communication process, Encoded message is transmitted Stage 4 : Encoded message is received Stage 5 : Receiver decodes the message Hearing is a physical act. Words sent out by the speaker are received. They are then further processed by the listener. Decoding involves sensing and filtering of the verbal messages that are heard. Decoding is a conscious act. Comprehending is understanding the meaning of the filtered message. This act is known as absorption or assimilation. The message at this stage has been heard, sensed, filtered and interpreted. This act of interpreting, requires listener's own knowledge, experience, perception and cognitive ( understanding) p