ENHANCING MY

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
WORKSHOP
RATIONALE
Many group and relationship conflicts arise because of the lack
of understanding among members, regardless of individual
personalities,
creative
differences,
traumatic
experiences,
unconscious motivations and whatnot. This module confirms the
assumption that relationships among peers require communication
as its most important tool in achieving better relationships and to
avoid misunderstanding. Communication is the foundation of any
successful relationship, be it personal or professional.
Communication is defined as the sharing of messages which
could be expressed in a form of verbal expression and non-verbal
expressions. The main objective is to establish a degree of
understanding between the sender, the receiver, with the use of
both verbal and nonverbal cues.

OBJECTIVES
The following objectives of this communication workshop are as
follows:
a.

Know the two-way communication model

b.
Find the importance of verbal and non-verbal cues in
communication
c.
To be able to apply the two-way communication model in
everyday interactions

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PROGRAM FLOW
12:00 nn 1:00 pm

Registration

1:00 pm 1:10 pm

Invocation and National Anthem

1:10 pm 1: 15 pm

Opening Remarks and Objectives

1:15 pm 1: 25 pm

Giving of the Ground Rules

1:25 pm 1: 45 pm

Opening Exercise:

1:45 pm 1:50 pm

Experiential Activity 1: Draw An Object

1:50 pm 2:30 pm

Experiential Activity 2: ComCards

2:30 pm 3:00 pm

Processing

3:00 pm 3:20 pm

Lecturette 1: Two-Way Communication

Lecturette 2: Non-verbal Communication

3:20 pm 3:25 pm

Evaluation

3:25 pm 3:30 pm

Giving of Certificates

EMCEE: Miss Lucelle B. Collamat

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INVOCATION
Lets put ourselves in the most Holy presence God. Let us pray.
Dear God, we offer everything to you during this workshop. May we ask for
your blessing and divine providence that the activities set for this
undertaking be successful and effective.May we also retain the invaluable
knowledge and learning experiences that we derive from this activity, for
actual application when we leave this venue.
We pray that you bless all of us here, and we who prepared this activity
that wemay fulfill our tasks responsibly; that the objectives we have set
may all be achieved.Your generous blessing would mean the success of
this workshop. We know that without You, we can do nothing.
May we be living witnesses of your genuine love, through the
implementation of the knowledge acquired through this workshop. Grant
us your divine wisdom as we go about our daily task after this.
This we ask in Jesus name, AMEN.

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THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ANTHEM

Bayang magiliw, perlas ng silanganan.
Alab ng puso, sadibdibmo'ybuhay.
Lupang hinirang, duyanka ng
magiting
Sa manlulupig, di kapasisiil.
Sa dagat at bundok, sasimoy at
Sa langit mong bughaw,
May dilagang tula at awit
Sa pag layang minamahal.
Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y
Tagumpay na nagniningning.
Ang bituin at araw niya
Kalian pa may di magdidilim.
Lupa ng araw, ng lualhati'tpagsinta,
Buhay ay langit sa piling mo.
Aming ligayanapag may mang-aapi,
Ang mamatay ng dahilsaiyo

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OPENING REMARKS
To Mrs. Luzlin Elcullada, our ever dynamic professor in group process and
counselling, to my beloved classmates in Master in Education major in
Guidance and Counselling Batch 9, to my fellow facilitators in this workshop,
friends, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.
First of all, I would like to thank everyone here for being present in this
workshop. I do hope and believe that you can get a precious gem in this
activity and that is learning. But what is in need about learning? Or shall I say
what we can get after this workshop? Well it is a surprise and it is for you to
find out what the activity is all about.
Last time, our team made a Training Needs Analysis Tool (TNA) and
conducted to a selected group of young people. No one behold that this
pressing need is what the answer of this workshop. Thus, I remember one
time with the experience of mine when my fellow youth got embarrassed in
the group which affects misunderstanding, mis-coordination, lack of
knowledge and details, and others. The rationale of this is that many group
and relationship conflicts arise because of the lack of understanding among
members, regardless of individual personalities, creative differences,
traumatic experiences, unconscious motivations and whatnot.
That is why in every group, whether in your work mates, class mates, seat
mates, love mates or even in homes, this value (or shall I say blank) will
indeed a great help for all of us for personal and social growth.
To end this remarks, allow me to use the words of the current President of
U.S.A. in his one of his famous speeches: Change will not come if we wait for
some other person or some other time. We are the ones weve been waiting
for. We are the change that we seek. May this workshop change us for the
better of our lives and the lives of others. Once again I welcome you all and
good afternoon.

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GROUND RULES
1. Participate.
I would like you to participate in this workshop, that you will not joke
around, but instead take the activity seriously. I promise that you will
learn so much in this endeavour, that whatever insights you get, you will
surely be able to use in your daily life.
2. Take off your shoes.
Taking off your shoes means levelling off. I ask each one of you that you
set aside your status and position in your work, whether you in the
supervisory level or in the line staff or whether you are a principle or a
teacher. Know that each one us here is equal. No one is superior or inferior
to one another.
3. Listen with your ears, eyes and heart.
Listening with your ears means you listen with understanding to the
person who is talking, expressing, and disclosing. Listening with your eyes
means that you look at the person who is speaking. Lastly, listening with
your heart means that whatever it is that is being said, understand the
person and do not judge. Have an open mind.
4. Be responsible and be honest
I ask you to be honest and be responsible for the things that you do and
the words that you say.
5. What you hear, what you do, what you see, when you leave, leave it
here
I ask you that all the things that you see, hear and do, you keep it to
yourself. There might me things that are being disclosed that are personal
and thus, it needs your outmost adherence to the rule of confidentiality.

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OPENING EXCERCISE
Instructions: GTKY (Getting to know you more)
Follow the given instructions:
a) All the participants will form a big circle called Circle of
friends;
b) Participants will sing the song I want to be your friend ;
c) All of them will follow the 5 different actions with a partner
d) Getting to know more with your partner in asking the given
weirdest questions.
I want to be your friend ( 3x)
A little bit more ( 2x) (THIS PART DO THE ACTION WITH A
PARTNER)
A little bit
A little bit
A little bit more
( 5x)
5 actions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Side by side ( clapping of hands)

First partner ( nose to nose)
Second partner ( chick to chick)
Third partner ( forehead to forehead)
Fourth partner ( knees to knees)
All friends ( hug a friend at least 5 to 10 friends)

Weirdest questions ever!

1. How are you today? Tomorrow? Next day?

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2. If an orange is orange, why isn't a lime called a green or a lemon called

a yellow?
3. All of your life, your parents have taught you. What have you taught to
your parents?
4. Are you a sensitive person? Why or why not?
5. According to you, how do we fight global warming?
6. Why don't black guys get white tattoos?
7. If you had only 24 hours to live, what would you do?
8. If money were not an object, what would you do with your life?
9. What are the thing(s) you always bring inside your bag?
10.
How much money do you have in your pocket now? ( Let your
friend see it)
After all the activities, this reflection message will help the participants
to have a strong relationship with each other.
Message:
Effective communication is critical to successful relationships. It's
well known that good communication is the foundation of any
successful relationship, be it personal or professional. It's important to
recognize, though, that it's our nonverbal communicationour facial
expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, and tone of voicethat
speak the loudest. The ability to understand and use nonverbal
communication, or body language, is a powerful tool that can help you
connect with others, express what you really mean, and build better
relationships.
Here inside of our classroom. We are not just students or a
learner but also we are family. Yes, a family not just by blood but in
our heart and soul. Each of has here have an ability to build a strong
family. Strong families allow all family members no matter how
young or small to talk about their thoughts and feelings. This does
not mean that members are not respectful of one another, but rather that
feelings and
ideas are respected.
Everyone should be expected to express themselves in appropriate
ways such
as with I messages. This is how we show here in our
batch, and this made us unique.

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In this seminar, this is not just about effective communication but also
effective relationship thru one another. But all means, all of us here are
family. Together we stand, divided we fall.

EXPERIENCIAL ACTIVITY 1
Title: DRAW AN OBJECT
Theme: Communication
Objective: To know the importance of both verbal and non-verbal communication
Time: 5 minutes only
Physical setting:
Indoor setting
Materials:
White board, white board markers
Procedure:
1. The facilitator will divide the group into small groups of 15 persons.
2. Each group will draw an object (e.g. house, dog, cat etc.) on the board in 15
strokes, simultaneously.
3. Each member is not allowed to discuss with the other members about the
design. Verbal communication must be avoided.
4. Each member is entitled to one stroke only.
5. All groups will draw on the board simultaneously.

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EXPERIENCIAL ACTIVITY 2
Title: COMCARDS
Theme: Communication
Objective: To use effective communication strategies via verbal communication
Time: 10-20 minutes only
Physical setting:
Indoor setting, participants will sit in a circle

Materials:
ComCards, publishing board, white board marker, permanent marker, masking tape,
manila paper,
Procedure:
6. The facilitator will form the group in a big circle.
7. The facilitator will give one comcard to each participant. Participants are not
allowed to show their comcards to the other participants. Otherwise, they will
be disqualified.
8. In the comcardsis one symbol for each areas (top, bottom, right and left
sides). Each comcard is connected like a puzzle piece to other comcards
through their similar symbols. (Figure 1).
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Figure 1: Each comcard

area (top, bottom, left,
right) has a corresponding
symbol which is connected
with
other
comcard
symbols.

9. The task is to connect the puzzle by identifying whos sides/areas are

connected through describing each symbol to the whole group via verbal
communication only. Other forms of non-verbal communication are strictly
prohibited.
10.The group is given the opportunity to discuss what strategies to use in
accomplishing the task.
Processing Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

What have you experienced while doing the activity?

What difficulties have you experienced?
Was the task easy? How so?
What did you feel while doing the activity?
What have you learned from that experience?
What insights have you gained?
Have you had similar experience with what you have experienced in the
activity in your day to day life? In work? At home?
8. How can you apply your learnings in your everyday life?

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LECTURETTE 1
Theoretical Input: TWO WAY COMMUNICATION
Objective: Differentiate One-Way Communication from Two Way Communication
Time: 10 minutes only
Communication can travel in two directions:

One-way communication is linear and limited because it occurs in a

straight line from sender to receiver and serves to inform, persuade or
command.

Sender

Messa
ge

Reciever

Two-way communication always includes feedback from the receiver to

the sender and lets the sender know the message has been received
accurately.

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In two-way communication, communication is negotiated. Both sender

and receiver listen to each other, gather information and are willing to
make changes to work together in harmony.
Their intent is to negotiate a mutually satisfactory situation.

Messag
e
Sender

Reciever
Respon
se or
Feedba
ck

LECTURETTE 2
Theoretical Input: NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
Objective: Know the importance of nonverbal cues in everyday communication
Time:10 minutes only
What is nonverbal communication and body language?
When we interact with others, we continuously give and receive
wordless signals. All of our nonverbal behaviorsthe gestures we
make, the way we sit, how fast or how loud we talk, how close we
stand, how much eye contact we makesend strong messages.
These messages don't stop when you stop speaking either. Even
when you're silent, you're still communicating nonverbally.
Oftentimes, what comes out of our mouths and what we
communicate through our body language are two totally different
things. When faced with these mixed signals, the listener has to
choose whether to believe your verbal or nonverbal message,
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and, in most cases, they're going to choose the nonverbal

because it's a natural, unconscious language that broadcasts our
true feelings and intentions in any given moment.
Nonverbal cues include: touch, glance, eye contact (gaze),
volume, vocal nuance, proximity, gestures, facial expression,
pause (silence), intonation, dress, posture, smell, word choice
and syntax, sounds (paralanguage)

Why is non-verbal communication important?

Basically, it is one of the key aspects of communication (and
especially important in a high-context culture). It has multiple
functions:
Used to repeat the verbal message (e.g. point in a
direction while stating directions).
May substitute for the verbal message (especially if it is
blocked by noise, interruption, etc) i.e. gestures
(finger to lips to indicate need for quiet), facial
expressions (i.e. a nod instead of a yes).
Reinforce or modify what is said in words. For example,
people may nod their heads vigorously when saying "Yes"
to emphasise that they agree with the other person, but
a shrug of the shoulders and a sad expression when
saying "I'm fine thanks, may imply that things are not
really fine at all!
Convey information about peoples emotional state.
Define or reinforce the relationship between people.
Provide feedback to the other person.
Regulate the flow of communication, for example by
signaling to others that they have finished speaking or
wish to say something.
Note the implications of the proverb: Actions speak louder than
words. In essence, this underscores the importance of nonverbal communication. Non-verbal communication is especially
significant in intercultural situations. Probably non-verbal
differences account for typical difficulties in communicating.

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