This document outlines the objectives and activities for a unit on spoken language study. It will analyze different forms of communication and how language changes based on context. Students will identify oral, written, non-verbal and visual communication. They will watch a film about communication and answer questions. The spoken language unit makes up 10% of the English Language GCSE and involves a controlled assessment where students complete a written task analyzing variations, choices or changes in spoken language. Factors like age, gender, ethnicity, occupation, education and situation affect how people speak.

1. Spoken Language
Study
L.O: To analyse and discuss different
forms of communication.
To understand the objectives and
outcomes of this unit of study.

2. Communication
Write down all the ways you have
communicated with other people today.
What other methods might people use to
communicate?

3. O Oral communication
O Written communication
O Non-verbal communication
O Visual communication
Label the communication on your
mindmap as one of these four things

4. Watch the film carefully
O http://film-english.
com/2011/03/05/lesson-plan-on-
communicating-more-effectively/

5. In pairs: Answer the
following questions
O Why is the film called signs?
O Write down all the ways used to
communicate in this film.
O How does the way we communicate
effect peoples perception of us?

6. What exactly is it?
O It is 10% of your English Language
GCSE.
O It will be a Controlled Assessment
completed in class.
O You will complete one written task from
a given question.

7. WJEC English Language
Unit 4
Studying spoken language
O Assessment Objectives
O AO2
O understand variations in spoken language, explaining why
language changes in relation to contexts
O evaluate the impact of spoken language choices in their
own and others’ use
O What is expected?
O You must complete a task on one of the following topics:
O Variations
O Choices
O Change

8. What affects the way we
speak?
O How can our language be affected?
 Think about why people speak
differently. Make a list of your ideas.

9. Investigating influences
There are ten main factors that affect and
influence the way we speak. These have been
hidden around the classroom. Your task is to
collect all ten reasons as quickly as possible.
You are not allowed to take your pen and
paper with you. Instead, when you find a piece
of information, you need to memorise it,
return to your table and make a note of it.
You are not allowed to touch the hidden
information.

10. How old or young a person is will affect
language use.
The sexual orientation of
individuals will affect language use.
Whether you are male or female will
affect language use.
The pasttimes and leisure activities
that people take part in will affect
language use.
A person’s ethnic background (for
example, Creolisation – London Jamaican)
will affect language use.
Any ‘less savoury’ activities that an
individual is involved in will affect
language use.
The job or career that a person does will
affect language use.
Where a person is from
(geographically) will affect
language use.
The social, educational and economic
position that people are born into / live
in will affect language use.
Who, where and why a person is
talking to someone else will affect
language use.