This document outlines a communication skills workshop presented by Ms. Amy O. Maki. The workshop covers the components of effective verbal and written communication, including listening skills, message content, tone, body language, and grammar. Participants engage in activities to practice their verbal and written communication skills. The goal is for participants to understand effective communication, avoid common mistakes, and develop their personal statements.

1. Communication Skills
Ms. Amy O. Maki, M.Ed.
MATC Scholars Program
March 26, 2021 - April 9, 2021
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

2. OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Learning Objectives
• Learning Outcomes
• Session Presentation
• Conclusions

3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• The components of effective communication
• The importance of appropriate writing and
speaking in academic and corporate settings
• Improvement of communication skills
through written and verbal activities
• The role of non-verbal communication cues
• Development of participant’s personal
statements

4. LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Gain a better understanding of effective
communication skills and their importance
• Learn how to avoid some common
mishaps in communicating
• Acquire an appreciation of the role of non-
verbal communication cues
• Begin a personal statement draft

5. SESSION OVERVIEW
• Terminology & Philosophy
• Components of Verbal Communication
• Components of Written Communication
• Academic In-person Interview (Active Learning)
• Writing Your Personal Statement (Active Learning)
• Conclusion

6. TERMINOLOGY & PHILOSPHY
Definition of Communication
1. An act or instance of transmitting
2. Information transmitted or conveyed
• A verbal or written message
3. A process by which information is exchanged
between individuals through a common system of
symbols, signs, or behaviors
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communication

7. Who are you speaking to? Audience
What was being said? Listening
What words do you use? The Message
How do you verbally communicate? Tone, Pitch, Pace,
(Para Verbal) and Inflection
What does your body communicate? Body Language
COMPONENTS OF VERBAL COMMUNICATION

8. 1. Define your audience: parent, peer, faculty….....
2. Read this statement aloud.
3. Read this statement aloud again using a different
tone, pitch, pace, and/or word emphasis.
Question: “Did you study?”
Answer: “I did study hard last night.”
Did the message change?
VERBAL COMMUNICATION – ACTIVE LEARNING

9. Body Language
• Appearance
• Location (Distance)
• Posture
• Facial Expression
• Eye Contact
• Physical Contact
Words
7%
Voice
38%
Body
Language
55%
Words Voice Body Language
COMPONENTS OF VERBAL COMMUNICATION

10. • What are your core values?
• What are your strengths & weaknesses?
• Are there any life experiences that
reflect who you are?
Begin With Self Assessment
• What do you bring to the program?
• Why this particular institution?
• Why graduate school?
Know Your Audience
VERBAL AND WRITTEN COMMONALITIES

11. • Audience
Who are you
writing to?
• The Question
What is being
asked?
• The Message
What is your
response?
• Punctuation, word
usage, grammar, and
format
How do you
convey your
message?
Remember the old adage, “Writing is Rewriting”
COMPONENTS OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

12. • Personal Statements usually focuses on who you
are, that is, your qualities and character. It can
also include your research interests if a statement
of purpose is not requested.
• The Audience may be faculty, discipline specialist,
and non-specialist.
• The introductory paragraph is important. The
attention getter.
WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT
ACTIVITY

13. Begin with self reflection and
conversations with friends, family,
mentors, employers, and peers.
Introductory paragraph invites the
reader to learn more.
A personal statement
is an essay that tells a
story about a main
character…
YOU
• Person
• Student
• Scholar
• Future leader
PERSONAL STATEMENT

14. Not carefully
listening/reading
Use of idioms,
acronyms,
abbreviations
Distractive
mannerisms
Rambling responses
Grammatical errors
(Subject verb
agreement)
Inappropriate body
language (no eye
contact, slouching,
and finger pointing)
Barriers
BARRIERS/REMINDERS: VERBAL AND WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION

15. Listen/Read – What
is being asked?
Be concise/focused –
What do I want to be
heard or read?
Word usage
(Grammar) – How
am I expressing
myself?
Be aware of
proximity – What is
comfortable?
Grammatical errors
(Subject verb
agreement)
Volume, Pace, tone,
pitch – How do I
sound? What is my
word choice &
punctuation.
Reminders
BARRIERS/REMINDERS: VERBAL AND WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION

16. To successfully conveying a verbal or written message:
Prepare & Practice
Clearly
understand
what is being
asked
Think
through the
response
Respond to the
specific request
directly &
concisely
Practice
ACADEMIC INTERVIEW & PERSONAL STATEMENT
SUMMARY

17. Slide design © 2009, Mid-America Transportation Center. All rights reserved.
Ms. Amy O. Maki, M.Ed.
Founder/President
A.O. Maki & Associates, L.L.C.
12821 82nd Avenue NE
Kirkland, WA 98034
aomaki@comcast.net
CREDITS