The document discusses holistic approaches to teaching communication, emphasizing the importance of personal, social, and professional growth alongside linguistic development. It presents a framework for effective communication that includes fluency, accuracy, complexity, interactivity, and measures of communicative effect, supported by various sample activities for students at different proficiency levels. Key concepts include promoting authentic voice and presence in communication through engagement, positivity, and self-reflection.

1. Holistic Approaches to Teaching Communication © Michael Rost ETA

2. Focus on: learners’ personal , social , and professional growth + + + in addition to their linguistic development What is a “holistic” approach?

3. Communication = fluency & accuracy + complexity + interactivity + communicative “effect” + ?? A way of measuring communication What is a “holistic” approach to … communication?

4. a communicative approach requires: authentic tasks (require “real” purpose) + standards for measuring success and progress

5. Framework for a communication assessment scale Fluency Accuracy Complexity Interactivity 5 4         3         2         1

6. Sample activities and tasks For intermediate students • Structured interviews • Situational role plays • Topic-based discussions • Collaborative story-telling • Problem-solving tasks • Speaking circles • Contact assignments • Jigsaw activities For advanced students • Structured interviews • Topical presentations • Debates • Digital Story-telling • Free conversation • Contact projects • Extemporaneous speeches • Scenarios and case studies

7. Sample activities and tasks For beginning students • Scripted dialogues • Model conversations • Picture-based questions • Logic puzzles • Information-gap tasks • Collaborative tasks • Structured interviews • First-person presentations

8. Communication = fluency, accuracy + complexity + interactivity + communicative “effect” + ?? Let’s revisit the concept: “ holistic” = measuring communication in the most inclusive way

9. “ emotional investment”  authentic voice presence

10. The notion of “presence” in communication

11. May’s Story: …when I got to the States I found it very hard to communicate with people. I was very frustrated. One classmate told me, “May, you know, you’re too serious… you got to be able to open up a little bit… We don’t really know who you are .” I was very shocked actually, because I thought I was very open and willing to learn…

12. - shyness - peer influence - “fossilization” - fear of failure and public correction - underused critical thinking skills overcoming affective barriers to communication

13. > connect with true interests > show personal sense of humor > recognize desire for recognition > reveal personal passion > stay focused on goals finding an authentic voice

14. Interactive Listening Sample activities for promoting “Presence”

15. First-person presentations “ The Real Me” (5 q’s) Sample activities for promoting “Presence”

16. Speaking Circles Sample activities for promoting “Presence”

17. ideas for developing “presence” in communication: 4 steps

18. In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. - Mahatma Gandhi Step 1: Be Silent

19. what it is: being comfortable with silence and uncertainty what makes it difficult: belief that emptiness = negativity Step 1: Be Silent

20. incorporating this principle into communicative activities 1. Planning time 2. Communication strategies for: slowing down, stopping, restarting, re-connecting managing misunderstanding 3. Reflection time Step 1: Be Silent

21. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Step 2: Be Engaged

22. what it is: connection with listeners what makes it difficult: feelings of inadequacy, expectations of negative feedback Step 2: Be Engaged

23. incorporating this principle into communicative activities (1) Provide listeners with clear goals that support the speaker (2) Demonstrate active listening strategies and “holistic” listening attitudes. (3) Teach students to maintain eye contact with listeners – one listener at a time. Step 2: Be Engaged

24. Praise invariably implies a reference to a higher standard. - Aristotle Step 3: Be Positive

25. what it is: positive regard for self and others what makes it difficult: habitual self-deprecation, fear of success Step 3: Be Positive

26. incorporating this principle into communicative activities (1 ) Aim for 80: 20 ratio of +/- feedback (2) Encourage students to provide positive feedback to each other (3) Encourage the students to feel the support and interest of the group, and to receive the positive feedback given to them. (4) Explore differences in cultural learning styles. Step 3: Be Positive

27. A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. - Maya Angelou Step 4: Be Yourself

28. what it is: authentic voice, desire to communicate what makes it difficult: educational culture, fossilization Step 4: Be Yourself

29. incorporating this principle into communicative activities (1) Encourage students to reflect on the learning process. (2) Have students keep journals, telling their “life stories”. (3) Include students’ personal presentations, about their interests and goals. (4) Keep a class blog, or a class wiki that serves as a portfolio for student contributions to the class. Step 4: Be Yourself

30. The “Pay Off” for learners and teachers • greater motivation by students • “ Blue Ocean” classroom environment • more “pushed output” • more integrated learning and retention (i.e. better results !) Why move toward “holistic” approaches to communication?

31. Image: Adding “presence” to our communication scales Presence 5 4   3   2   1

32. Thank you for your participation! Michael Rost [email_address]