ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SKILLS LAB

LAB MANUAL
B.Tech III Year (R-22)

(HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES DEPARTMENT)

 ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SKILLS LAB R-18 JNTUH

SYLLABUS

The following course content to conduct the activities is prescribed for the
Advanced Communication Skills (ACS) Lab:

1. Activities on Fundamentals of Inter-personal Communication and

Building Vocabulary - Starting a conversation - responding appropreiately
and relevantly - using the right body language - Role Play in different
situations & Discourse Skillsusing visuals - Synonyms and antonyms, word
roots, one-word substitutes, prefixes and suffixes, study of word origin,
business vocabulary, analogy, idioms and phrases, collocations & usage of
vocabulary.

2. Activities on Reading Comprehension - General Vs Local

comprehension, reading for facts, guessing meanings from context, scanning,
skimming, inferring meaning, critical reading & effective googling.

3. Activities on Writing Skills - Structure and presentation of different types

of writing - letter writing/ Resume wrting/ e-correspondence/ Technical report
writing/ Portifolio writing - planning for writing - improving one's writing.

4. Activities on Presentation Skills - Oral presentations (individual and

group) through JAM sessions/seminars/PPTs and written presentations through
posters/ projects/ reports/ e-mails/ assignments etc.

5. Activities on Group Discussion and Interview Skills - Dynamics of group

discussion, intervention, summarizing, modulation of voice, body language,
relevance, fluency and organization of ideas and rubrics for evaluation-
Concept and process, pre-interview planning, opening strategies, answering
strategies, interview through tele-conference & video-conferencing and Mock
Interviews.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT

The Advanced English Communication Skills (AECS) Laboratory shall have

the following infrastructural facilities to accommodate at least 35 students in
the lab:

 Spacious room with appropriate acoustics.

 Round Tables with movable chairs
 Audio-visual aids LCD Projector
 Public Address system
 P – IV Processor, Hard Disk – 80 GB, RAM–512 MB Minimum, Speed –
2.8 GHZ

 T. V, a digital stereo & Camcorder

 Headphones of High quality

SUGGESTED SOFTWARE:

The software consisting of the prescribed topics elaborated above should be

procured and used.

 Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Compass, 7th Edition

 DELTA‟s key to the Next Generation TOEFL Test: Advanced Skill

Practice.

 Lingua TOEFL CBT Insider, by Dream tech

 TOEFL & GRE (KAPLAN, AARCO & BARRONS, USA, Cracking

GRE by CLIFFS)

TEXT BOOKS:

1. Effective Technical Communication by M Asharaf Rizvi. McGraw Hill

Education (India) Pvt. Ltd.
2 nd Edition
2. Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students by Stephen
Bailey, Routledge, 5th Edition.

REFERENCES:

1. Learn Correct English – A Book of Grammar, Usage and Composition by

Shiv K. Kumar and Hemalatha . Nagarajan. Pearson 2007

2. Professional Communication by Aruna Koneru, McGraw Hill Education

(India) Pvt. Ltd, 2016.

3. Technical Communication by Meenakshi Raman & Sangeeta Sharma,

Oxford University Press 2009.

4. Technical Communication by Paul V. Anderson. 2007. Cengage Learning

pvt. Ltd. New Delhi.

5. English Vocabulary in Use series, Cambridge University Press 2008.

6. Handbook for Technical Communication by David A. McMurrey & Joanne

Buckley. 2012. Cengage Learning.

7. Communication Skills by Leena Sen, PHI Learning Pvt Ltd., New Delhi,
2009.

8. Job Hunting by Colm Downes, Cambridge University Press 2008.

9. English for Technical Communication for Engineering Students, Aysha
Vishwamohan, Tata Mc Graw- Hill 2009
 List of Exercises

UNIT Name of the Exercise

1 Activities on Interpersonal Communication and Building Vocabulary

2 Activities on Reading Comprehension

3 Activities on Writing Skills

4 Activities on Presentation Skills

5 Activities on Group Discussion and Interview Skills

General Instructions:

1) Students are instructed not to use pen drives during lab sessions.

2) Headphones should not be used for any other purpose except for listening to
the information available through software.

3) Students are requested to be careful while handling and operating the

computers.

4) Students must bring their lab manuals to the lab without fail and get them
signed by the faculty – in – charge.

5) Use of mobile phones during lab hours is strictly prohibited.

6) Students should come formally dressed. Jeans, shots, Tea-shirts are not
allowed.

7) Students should maintain punctuality in attending the labs.

8) Students should enter their names and computer number in the login
register.

9) Student should use the same computer every time.

10) Students are not allowed into the lab without ID cards.

11) All students should actively participate in the lab activities.

12) Students are evaluated based on their active participation and proper
behavior.
 Unit-1
Activities on Interpersonal Communication and Building Vocabulary

Interpersonal communication can be defined as the process by which people

exchange information, feeling and meaning through both verbal- and non
verbal messages. It is a kind of face to face conversation that takes place
between strangers or known individuals, in any context or situation. It is not
just about what is actually said, the language used, but also focuses on how it is
said. The non-verbal messages sent through the tone of voice, facial
expressions, gestures and body language also play an important role.
Conversation is a form of interactive, spontaneous communication between
two or more people. It is an important aspect in spoken communication. The
development of conversational skills and etiquette is an important part of
socialization. The development of conversational skills in English among
engineering students is the need of the hour.

Kinesics or Role of Body Language in Communication: Body language

plays an important role in communication. Most often it sends signals stronger
than words. The sub conscious mind controls the body movements, so listeners
can easily understand if there is a difference in what you are saying and
thinking. Hence, it is very important that your words and body language
complement each other. Body language comprises of the gestures and
movements we make of the different parts of our body when communicating
with people. Facial expression and eye movements are very important while
conveying your feelings. A smile on the face reflects confidence. Right body
posture enables you to control your voice easily. Your body weight should be
balanced on the feet to have right and correct posture. Observe your body
language when you are happy and confident. You will notice that your body is
balanced and you take full breath at easy and your body moves synchronously
with your voice.

Why body language:-

 Body language can instantaneously help to assess the interest of people
 It is a personal way of expressing emotions when words don‟t or can‟t
help
 It makes communication interesting
Positive body gestures

Positive body gestures enhance confidence and security. They are signs of
active participation and leave a good impression. Positive gestures include:-

 Walking upright
 Shaking hands confidently
 Having a pleasant face.
 Nodding head is a positive gesture
 A steady eye contact

Negative body gestures Negative gestures symbolize insecurity and

restlessness. Such gestures show lack of confidence. Such gestures should be
avoided in interviews or meetings.
 Being up tied
 Biting nails
 Getting distracted
 Faking a smile
 Looking at something else while talking instead of the speaker
 Proper etiquettes should be followed.

Points to remember:-
 Never be stiff while making movements.
 Avoid body language that may be misunderstood or look unprofessional.
E.g. Winking.
 A consistent eye contact is a positive sign and must be used.
 Avoid fiddling with things around. It may distract the attention.
 Each body part movement signifies something and helps in interpreting.
E.g. Standing with hands on hips signifies aggressions, nodding signifies
agreement and active listening, biting nails signifies nervousness.
 Unlike emails, body language does not give time to think. Hence they
must be used appropriately.
How to start a conversation:

Starting a conversation to know someone, or breaking tongue-tied silence can

be very stressful. However, it is not difficult. The following guidelines can be
used to start a conversation, when there is nothing to talk about.

 Comment on the location or occasion: Look around to see if there is

anything worth pointing out. For instance, “I enjoy this view!” “Such
incredible food!” etc.

 Ask an open-ended question: Open ended questions facilitate to start

the conversation and continue the conversation with ease. Open ended
questions generally begin with

question words like who, when, what, why, where and how. For example,
“What sort of books do you like?” Which season do you prefer the most etc.

 Learn how to combine general remarks with open-ended questions:

Sometimes either one of these may be awkward or seem to be out of
place or context on its own. In such situations, combine general remarks
with open ended questions for maximum effect. For example, “That‟s a
beautiful hand bag, where did you get it?” This combination of general
remarks with open ended question allows the owner of the hand bag to
talk about the day she went for shopping and her experiences.

 Enquire about their pets: Talking about animals can create a common
ground to speak about when there is absolutely nothing to talk in
common. Don‟t talk about your pet, as it may be annoying to some
people. Instead, asking about their pets is a great way to allow people to
open up and talk with less effort.

 Acquire adequate knowledge on current events: Updating one‟s

knowledge on current affairs is a good way to start a conversation or
continue the conversation. When you are ready to start a conversation,
you can say something like, “Did you read the news about earthquake in
Nepal?”
 Make use of previous discussions: If the person is a known individual,
recollect the list of topics already discussed and continue with one of
them. For example, children, or projects or bad news that he/she shared.
This gives a topic to talk about, and also makes them understand that
you care about them.

 Pose questions that are easy to answer: Some questions are hard to
answer and make the person think sometimes, “Do I really have to
answer this question?” Many people prefer easy questions to hard
questions. For instance, “What are your plans for today?”, “How do you
feel working in summer?”etc.

 Understand their feelings: Don‟t ask questions that invade their

personal space. Some people experience discomfort in discussing topics
such as weight, or lack of possessing a degree or qualification etc. Be
thoughtful and avoid starting a conversation on such topics even with
strangers.

 Wash off your fears: When you feel that you are not able to participate
in conversation, with another person, it may be because you started
telling yourself a few negative things like you are boring, intruding or
wasting their time. This can leave you embarrassed and tongue-tied.
Feeling self-conscious during conversation is not unusual and also not
productive.
Tips for an effective conversation:

 Introduce yourself, if you don‟t know the person. Look approachable,

tell the person your name and offer a firm hand shake and smile.
 Keep the conversation light and simple, especially if you are still getting
to know each one better.
 Use small talk to establish relationship and affinity. Small talk can be
started on topics like, the purchase of new car, vacation plans, a newly
planted garden etc.
 Talking about weather is a cliché, but if there is something unusual
about the weather, it can be a great topic for conversation.
 Follow your partner‟s cue for a smooth conversation.
 Employ active listening strategies to know what they are saying and to
summarize their feelings.
 Ask and answer the questions as part of conversation. Ensure that they
get adequate time to talk.
 Tell the other person‟s name as a sign of respect and to make them feel
comfortable. It makes the conversation real and intimate.
 Utilize acknowledgement cues like nodding, giving short but
encouraging statements like “Is that true?”, “Is that so?” That‟s quite
interesting or amazing!”
 Keep your body language open and amicable. Nod while agreeing; make
eye contact, lean forward. This will make them feel more comfortable
and makes the conversation more natural.
 Keep a sensible bubble of personal space if the person you're talking to
is a stranger or someone that you don't know well.
 Remain engaged in the conversation.
 Respond naturally. Laugh for a funny comment or joke. Don‟t force
laughter.
 Practice getting conversations started. It is little difficult in the
beginning, but becomes easy with practice.
 Follow your partner‟s lead: If your conversational partner appears to
listen interestingly,
continue. If he or she looks at a clock or wrist watch, or searches for an escape
strategy, then you have been going on for too long. It is important to observe
and following your partner‟s cues to make the conversation pleasant. This may
be a hard skill to learn, but can be practiced.

 Use sensory words: Words like „imagine‟, „feel‟, „tell‟ etc. encourage the
other person to

paint an imaginary and descriptive picture as part of the conversation. This will
make

The conversation engaging and will also leave an impact on the other person.

For example “How do you feel about the new government?”

 Maintain the equilibrium: As the person who started the conversation,

the responsibility
to continue the conversation and maintaining its momentum rests on you. If the
other person listens to actively and pose open questions back for you, take
them as their cues and keep them engaged in conversation by asking them open
questions.

 Don‟t be afraid of pauses: Pauses can be looked at as opportunities to

change the topics,

re-energize the conversation. Letting a pause for a long time is the only time
that you
should think or worry about silence in a conversation. As long as you can
move naturally
to the next subject or topic, its fine and should not feel stressed.
 Don‟t make your partner feel uncomfortable: Answer respectfully to
someone who remains uncomfortable in your presence. If your
conversational partner appears uninterested or withdrawn in conversing
or sharing information with you, don‟t irritate too much and don‟t ask
too many questions.
 Give yourself an out: Entering into a conversation means that you can
talk briefly with

your friends. This will not make your partner feel trapped or obligated, and
also gives you an opportunity to conclude, when necessary.

Role-Plays: Role playing is defined as pretending to be someone else or

pretending to be in a specific situation that you are not actually in at the time.
An example of role playing is when you pretend that your friend is your boss
and you have a practice conversation in which you ask for a salary hike.
In day to day life, we require information about many things. We have to ask
for information about various things and also give information to different
people about different things. Expressions utilized differ from situation to
situation. For instance, the expressions used in asking for information is
different from complaining. Thus, the students should know the differences
and master them to be proficient in using the language. Few expressions that
are generally used during request are given below for better understanding as
an example.

Making Requests:
  Could you possibly give me a glass of water?

 Do you think you could give me a glass of water?

 I wonder if you could give me a glass of water.

 Would you mind giving me a glass of water?

 I would be grateful if you could give me a glass of water?

 I would appreciate if you could give me a glass of water?

Helping students or trainers to understand human behavior is one of the most

common problems faced by teachers and trainers. Increasingly tutors are using
experiential methods to give individuals practice at dealing with real life
problems, and many of these methods involve the use of role-play. If it is used
well, role-play can vastly enhance the learning experience, but often the full
potential of the role-play is diminished as it is ineffectively, or inappropriately,
applied.

Discussion Questions:

1. Imagine that you are travelling in a train and would like to converse with the
traveler sitting opposite to you. How will you start a conversation?

2. You are the director of a company and decided to select the best manager of
the year. Talk to your colleagues on the criteria you have decided upon to
select.

3. Mrs. Mary is baking cakes when her daughter Linda came home from
school. Write an imaginary conversation between Mary and Linda.

4. You and your friend have decided to attend a musical concert in the city.
Write a few lines of your conversation about the concert you have planned to
attend.

5. You happened to meet your old friend in a super market. Write the dialogues
between you and your friend.
6. Browse and find out various formal expressions used in situations like
complaining, apologizing, giving and asking for information.

Vocabulary Building

Vocabulary means a sum or stock of words employed by a language, a group,

an individual or a work or in a field of knowledge. It is the collection of words
and terms available for used in communication. Developing good vocabulary is
not only important to writers and speakers. It is important in everybody‟s life
both personally as well as professionally. The three main reasons to improve
one‟s vocabulary are:

 It sharpens your communication

 It opens your mind
 Vocabulary helps you to become successful

Tips to improve vocabulary

 Read, read, and read! The more you read novels, newspapers and
magazines, the better is your vocabulary, as you are exposed to number
of different and new words.
 Keep a thesaurus or pocket dictionary, or a smart phone.
 Maintain a vocabulary journal.
 Learn a word a day, its synonyms and antonyms.
 Learn word roots (Etymology)
 Understand the meanings of as many prefixes and suffixes.
 Remember one-word substitutes, business vocabulary.
 Practice verbal analogy.
 Use idioms and phrases and collocations in your speech.

Synonyms: A synonyms is a word that has the same or similar meaning as

another word.
Ex: Deceit – Dishonest
Antonyms: An antonym is a word that is opposite in meaning to the given
word.
Ex: Turbulent x Tranquil

Idioms and Phrases: Understanding and remembering idioms and phrases is

very important to improve one‟s vocabulary. The word „Phrase‟ can be defined
a small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit, typically
forming a component of a clause.

Ex: I cannot put up with that fellow. The italicized words are a phrase. The
contextualized meaning of the phrase is endured.

An „Idiom‟ can be defined as a group of words whose meaning cannot be

predicted from the literal meaning of the constituent words.
Ex: To smell a rat: to suspect foul dealings.

One-Word Substitutes: Substituting a long sentence by a single word

conveying the meaning of the sentence.
Ex: A person whom one knows but is not particularly a close friend-
Acquaintance.

Verbal Analogy: Analogy means similarity between like features of two

things, on which a comparison can be made.
Ex: Play is related to ground as pray is related to – temple

Prefixes and Suffixes: Prefixes are added to the beginning of an existing word
in order to create a new word with a different meaning.
Ex: In the word multicultural- multi is the prefix, and cultural is the word.
Thus a new word multicultural is formed by adding the prefix to the word.

Suffixes are added to the end of the existing word.

Ex: In the word childish, ‘ish’ is the suffix, and child is the word. Thus a new
word childish is formed by adding the suffix ‘ish’ at the end of the word child.

Business Vocabulary: It is defined as set of words used for specific purposes.

For example, the words used by a lawyer are different from the words used by
an engineer.
Ex: Cash Cow: It is a business term that is used to talk about a business,
investment or product that gives steady income or profits.
Collocations: A familiar grouping of words, especially words that habitually
appear together and thereby convey meaning by association.
Ex: Richly decorated, fully aware, excruciating pain etc.

Study of word origin or Etymology: the study of the origin of words and the
way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
Ex: The meaning of the root Audi is ‘hear’. Words like audible and audience
can be remembered by remembering the root word.

Discussion Questions / Exercises

1. Identify any ten difficult words from a newspaper article and write their
synonyms and antonyms.

2. Google to find out the meanings of the following idioms

1. Bag of Bones

2. Play Possum

3. A Hot Potato

4. A Pretty Kettle of Fish

5. To Bring to Book

3. Write one word to substitute the sentence

1. Person lacking in experience and competence in art or science________

2. Obvious to the eye or mind _____________________________

3. Fear of great heights ____________________________________

4. To divide into branches or parts _______________________

5. The science of colors ______________________________

4. Select any five prefixes and five suffixes. Write their meanings and form as
many meaningful words as possible.

5. Complete each of the sentences by choosing the correct word from the
four options given.

1. Drama is related to stage as tennis is related to______________

a. Field b. court c. net d. racket

2. Play is related to director in the same way journal is related to__________

a. Reader b. publisher c. producer d. editor

3. Disease is related to epidemic in the same way as skirmish is related

to_________
a. War b. ointment c. quarrel d. campaign

4. Horse is related to hay in the same way cow is related _____________

a. Leaves b. fodder c. milk d. straw

5. Well is related to depth as office is related to_____________

a. Subordinates b. promotion c. efficiency d. authority.
 Unit-2
Activities on Reading Comprehension

Introduction: Reading is an essential element at every stage of one‟s life,

especially in schools, colleges and at workplace. This is because reading is a
means of discovering information to expand one‟s knowledge and
understanding of the subject of any kind and any field. Reading helps in mental
development and is known to stimulate the muscles of the eyes. It involves
greater levels of concentration and improves the conversational abilities of the
reader.
Reading Comprehension passages find their place in every competitive
examination. Apparently, solving reading comprehension passages seems to be
easy, but in reality, it is difficult. The question that vacillates in every
aspirant‟s mind is “How to improve Reading Comprehension”? Students are
adapted and comfortable in solving simple and undeviating passages in their
schools days, but the task becomes difficult when it comes to competitive
examinations. Students find difficulty in understanding the vocabulary,
concept of the passage and lose interest in solving reading comprehension
passages.

Reading Comprehension Strategies:

 Students often complain that they are unable to understand the given
passage. If, you happen to belong to this category of students, remember
that you need not understand each and every word, and at the same time
you need to find out the summary or the gist of the paragraph. Focusing
on the key words is more important.

 Know your strengths. The conservative approach is, reading the passage
and then answering the questions. But some students do not feel
comfortable with this approach. Probably, they do not know which key
words they have to remember, and waste a lot of time in reading the
passage again and again. In such situations, a „bottom up‟ approach is
followed, where the students read the questions first and then look for
corresponding answers from the paragraph.

 Time management plays a crucial role. Apart from testing knowledge

and skill, competitive examinations also test an individual‟s time
management. Practice numerous reading comprehension exercises with
the help of a timer.
 Practice more. This will alone make you smart in managing time,
understanding the techniques and finally makes you proficient in
answering the reading comprehension passages.

 Improve your vocabulary. A person who has poor vocabulary stops more
number of times while reading a passage. Every time he/she comes
across a new word, he/she stops and tries to understand the meaning. In
such situations, understanding the gist of the passage becomes difficult.
Having good vocabulary improves reading speed. It also helps in
understanding the passage better and saves a lot of time.

 Use a pencil while reading. Underline the key words.

 Find out words that are not necessary. If you carefully observe any
reading comprehension passage, you clearly understand that there are
more number of words, sentences and phrases which do not add any
meaning to the passage. Try to eliminate this junk while reading. You
can understand that even without these unwanted words, sentences and
phrases the meaning of the passage is clear.
 Come back later. Sometimes when we don‟t find answer for a particular
question, we generally tell ourselves that “Okay, let me proceed, I will
come back to it later.” This is indeed a good strategy and saves time, but
before moving on to another question, circle on your choice of answer,
which you feel correct at the present moment. In most situations when
you go back to answer the question, you don‟t remember the gist of the
passage. So, you have to read again from the beginning which consumes
a lot of time.
 Most reading comprehensions are complex passages taken from
scientific essays, well-known fiction, literature or economics. Solving
passages from different fields of knowledge will not only give practice,
but also increases vocabulary and reading speed.
 Focus on the content. Don‟t let your mind to waver here and there.
General Vs Local Comprehension

General comprehension or Global comprehension means understanding the

general meaning of what an individual is reading. It is referred to the central
idea of a multiple paragraph. Local comprehension can be defined as the most
important point about the topic of an individual paragraph. The general
meaning is stated in the paragraph and hence visible to the reader. The local or
implicit main idea was suggested in the paragraph and hence less visible to the
reader.

Reading for facts

Every reading passage contains facts and details. The facts and details tell
more about the main idea. Questions about facts and details ask you about
something that was stated in the passage. To answer a question about a fact or
detail, look back to the passage to find the answer. Five WH questions and one
H question answers everything about facts or details. They are who, what,
when. Where, why and how.

Guessing meanings from context

The ability to infer the meaning of an unknown word either by looking at the
vocabulary around it or its context is an important reading skill. The context
here either refers to the sentence or the paragraph where the unfamiliar word
appears which provides the reader with information that to give meaning or
sense of the term. Four types of clues can be used to support reading
comprehension. They are synonyms, antonyms, examples and definitions and
general knowledge.

Scanning

It is another types of fast reading used to cover a great deal of material to

locate a specific fact or piece of information. While trying to find out meaning
for a word in a dictionary, or looking for a telephone number in the telephone
directory, we scan and look for only specific information. Scanning speed can
be increased by regular practice and better concentration. Scanning is a very
important reading technique and serves several purposes, which include
looking for
a. A specific point or fact

b. relevant details presented in the form of graphs or tables

c. a formulae in a text

d. a word in a dictionary

e. train or television schedules

f. references or bibliographical listings

g.examination results

Skimming
It is the rapid survey of the subject. This is to get a rough idea or to see
quickly what the book is about. It is a more sophisticated skill than scanning.
The main objective of skimming is to understand the central idea and the main
points of a text. The reader has to read fast and make quick analysis. Skimming
involves three main skills: Identifying the central idea, recognizing main ideas,
and identifying the writing patterns of the passage. Skimming is indispensable
for better understanding of a text. Skimming should answer the following
questions about a passage or text.

What is the overall purpose of the text?

What is the theme or the central idea of the passage?

What is the organization of the passage?(general to specific, specific to

general, chronological, more important to less important, or less important to
more important and so on.
What does the author intend to do? (describe, instruct, report, narrate, persuade
and so on.)
What are the main points of the text?
Inferring meaning
Inferences are broadly referred to what “you read between lines.” Inferences
are what the author suggests or implies. The author wants the reader to arrive
at the same conclusion the author has arrived at. When the author implies
something, the reader has to infer.

Critical Reading
Critical reading is engaging in what you read by posing questions to one self.
For example „What is the author trying to say‟? or „what is the main idea or
argument presented‟? It involves a reasoned argument coupled with evaluation
and analyses of what you read.

Note: Don‟t spend lot of time in skimming and scanning to avoid drifting away
from the content of the paragraph.

Effective Googling
Effective search is an important skill that everybody has to master. There are
few tips to be followed for effective googling.
1. Keep the search phrase short

2. Use quotes

3. Search a website

4. Search a domain extension

5. Tell it what you don‟t want through a minus (-) sign.

6. Tell about what you don‟t want.

7. Search for this or that

8. Use the wild card

9. Avoid synonyms

10. Do a specialty search.

Discussion Topics/Exercises
Read the paragraph and answer the following questions

April fool’s Day

April fool‟s Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is on the first of April every
year. People can play practical jokes. That's why you shouldn't believe what is
said to you and you should be doubtful of the people around you on this day.
Someone might change the time on another person's alarm to make him wake
up very early or very late. Or she / he may put a lot of pepper in another's food.
Of course all this is done just for fun. When the trick is played people say
"April Fool" to make the poor person realize that it was just a joke.
Some of the well known and most successful pranks or practical jokes were on
the media - television, radio stations, newspapers... For instance, a BBC
television program ran a famous hoax in 1957, showing Italians harvesting
spaghetti from trees. A large number of people contacted the BBC wanting to
know how to cultivate spaghetti trees. In 2008, the BBC again reported on a
newly discovered colony of flying penguins showing people walking with the
penguins in Antarctica, and following their flight to the Amazon rainforest.
Source: Wikipedia

Comprehension:
1. April Fool‟s Day is also called Fool Day?

a. True
b. False

2. On this day

a. you must be suspicious about what people around you say or do

b. You should wake up early in order not to be hoaxed

3. After you play a trick on someone

a. say April Fool
b. say April Fool's Day
4. After the announcement of the BBC "spaghetti documentary"

a. people believed the piece of news

b. people called the BBC to complain about being hoaxed
 Unit-3
Activities on Writing Skills

Writing skills are tended to be inborn talents. But without putting up hard
work, the innate talents are of no use. Sustained motivation and hard work are
the two secrets to a good write up. The skill of writing has taken last place in
communicative skills (LSRW). To acquire this ability continuous practice and
involvement are necessary. If you would wish to write start writing, keep
writing and check your writing then rewrite. It is a process of answering
umpteen (No. of) questions related to the write up. Information gathering from
day to day life experiences helps to improve writing skills which are an
integral part of good communication. The more effective your writing skills
are, the more you through influence on people around you.

Importance and uses of good writing skills:

1. Good writing skills allow you to communicate with a larger audience
effectively with clarity and ease.
2. It enables you to meet the demands of life.
3. Good writing skills create impression and avoid negative reactions.
4. The errors in writing may force the loss of credibility.

Strategies to develop writing skills:

 Command over writing comes through practice.
 Life experiences should be converted to activity „writing‟.
 Grammatical errors are continuously checked
 Action words are concentrated upon
 Accuracy and coherence
 Re drafting
 Remember your audience and their requirement
 The medium and style of writing
 Gender neutral language
Different Types of Writing Skills

1. Letters, Formal and informal

2. Reports Project reports Memo reports and minutes of meetings

3. Résumé or Job Application

4. E mails

5. Portfolio writing

6. Taking Notes

Improving One’s Writing

Important tips to improve writing skills

 Keep it simple
 Keep it active: passive voice is avoided
 Work together: share the work done by showing it to specialists in that
area to get feedback
 Invest on books and training: Look into dictionary or thesaurus to
produce clear ad understandable writing. Courses and workshops will
help to improve writing.
 Make it interesting. As the readers are not familiar with subject matter,
necessary details are given
 Use new and better Technology: update knowledge of giving headings,
margins, alignment and new words
 Hiring a professional: when the volume of wring is large and
professional matter, it can be given to persons who are proficient in
writing
Résumé or Job Application

A Résumé is a calling card for one‟s future. It is a brief summary of your

talents, abilities education, experience and skills. A successful Résumé will
review summarize and present your training, expertise in the said field and
achievements clearly and concisely. Its main purpose is to convince the
prospective employer to contact you for an Interview. A Résumé is normally 2
to 3 pages. But a Curriculum Vitae is longer.

Major uses of a Résumé:

1. To help to go for an interview
2. To provide the employer with reference material during the interview
3. To serve as a reminder to the employer after the interview to send
a letter

Types of Résumés

1. Chronological Résumé
2. Functional Résumé
3. Combination Résumé
4. Targeted Résumé

Chronological Résumé
It starts by listing your work history with the recent position listed first. Your
jobs, educational qualifications are listed in reverse chronological order, with
the recent one first. Employers prefer this type of Résumé because it is easy to
assess one‟s caliber.

Functional Résumé
This type of Résumé focuses on skills and experience rather than one‟s
chronological work history. It is used most often by people who are changing
careers or who have gaps in their employment history. It highlights major skill
areas. Skills are emphasized over work experience. Job titles, Dates or names
of the employers may be left out. You may describe or label this section in
varieties of ways.
 Skills
 Abilities
 Accomplishments
  Experience
 Areas of competence

Combination Résumé

A combination Résumé lists a person‟s skills and experience first. The

employment history comes next. With this type of Résumé one can highlight
the skills relevant to the job one is applying for. It also provides the
chronological work history that employers prefer. You are writing a targeted
Résumé and need an effective way to match the skills to the job requirements.

Targeted Résumé

A targeted Résumé is a customised report which specifically highlights the

relevant qualifications and skills needed for the job. It gives an idea of
requisite experience for the specific position. This Résumé is in response to an
advertisement of a specific company with different career objectives.

Résumé Structure

The Résumé structure is important in more than one way. The ideal
Résumé structure gives a professional outlook while displaying a career –
oriented attitude of the applicant. It influences the flow of the Résumé and
thereby affecting its readability. Hence, constructing the Résumé perfectly will
improve your chances of gaining the important interview call. Each applicant
decides on the structure as per his strengths, capabilities and expectations of
the prospective employer and hence, every Résumé tends to differ from the
other. In general the structure contains the following steps.

 Presentation
 Planning
 Projecting skills and strengths
 Summary
 Form and style
 Expert advice (pet peeves)
 Cover letter
A Résumé is divided in 3 sections Introduction, Primary section and secondary
section

Introduction:

It contains a header and objectives.

Header includes name and contact details of the applicants. The name should
be in bold letters. The address, email id and telephone numbers are furnished.

Objectives:

It holds the aspirations and career plans. The applicant‟s potential qualities and
his expectations from the job are clearly indicated here.

Primary Section:

It is the most important part of a Résumé wherein the employer spends

maximum time reading it. So, the contents, flow and the look of this section
should be perfect. Ideally, the experience section should get more prominence
and therefore should be written first. Nevertheless applicants can put forth
educational qualification section prior to the other ones.

Experience:

It contains work history, designation, place of work, total work duration and
responsibilities. While giving the above details bullet format and action words
are used. Elaborate this section wisely to bring out the best of the applicant‟s
capacities.

Education Qualification:

This section should include qualifications both education as well as additional,

name of the awarding bodies, year of passing and grades scored.

Certifications

Extra courses, internships, workshops, seminars and training sessions

undertaken are listed here.
Achievements:

Any extra efforts put in and fetched awards or rewards are mentioned here.

Secondary section

Personal Details: It includes family background, marital status, age, interests

etc.

References: This includes the name and contact details of the people worked
with or studied under the guidance of. However the practice of writing
references is thinning down and concluded in one sentence, “available on
request”. This is the last part of the Résumé.

General Editing and Proof Reading of a résumé

A fresh eye can spot any mistakes which were overlooked. If it is reviewed, the
reviewer may notice a better way of saying something. Misspellings can also
be avoided.

Résumé Parsing Services: these are Computer Programs that filter through
Résumés utilizing key words.

Key words from the job posting: Since a Parsing Service may be utilized, it
is useful to include actual wording from the job posting within your Résumé.

Titles: Make sure that the job titles on your Résumé match the job position

Don‟t use the page Header and Footer Features: your Résumé will probably
not make it past the Parsing Service if you put your contact information etc., as
a header or footer. Using a page header or footer on Résumé is a good way not
to get noticed.

Legible and Attractive:

Stay with the Times New Roman, Verdana or courier. The font size for the
content would be between 11 and 12 and for headers it could be 12 or 14,
Leave a margin of 1 1/2” to left and right. The content should be in black,
highlighting headers with dark gray or deep navy blue. Bold and words in
italics should be sparingly used.
Final Formatting
Checks the job posting requirements to be sure you are submitting your
Résumé in the prescribed format through email, postal mail (hard copy) or fax.
Most commonly used format is Microsoft Word. A file name should be given
for your Résumé.

Cover Letter:

The Cover Letter basically consists of a request or self recommendation. It is

short explanations of why should the employer consider the applicant? A cover
letter can be short when you enclose a C.V. It is best to personalise the letter
for maximum impact on the reader, the recruiter. Only factual information
should be given in it. The opinion about the company can be briefly written
along with a mention of how it would help the applicant to work effectively in
the workplace.

The Format

A cover letter usually contains three paragraphs. Each para has its own
importance.

In the 1st para details of getting the information about the job i.e. through
advertisements, job portal, and internet are given.

The 2nd para should be about appraising the growth of the company and
applicant‟s self appraisal. The skills and achievements also should be given.

The 3rd para consists conclusion with a complimentary word to prove one‟s
mettle. A brief mention of the enclosures is also given.

All the 3 paras should be precise but very clear and impressive so that the
employer can send an interview call.

Tips to prepare a good résumé

1. See that a Résumé doesn‟t have any typographical, spelling, grammar,
syntax errors or factual errors
2. Key information is given i.e. Name, address, phone number and email id at
the top of the first page. Objectives are listed next in concord with the job
requirements
3. Experience, educational qualifications in reverse chronological order.
Additional information regarding hobbies/interests is given
4. Specify the goals for opting the job
5. Strengths are highlighted
6. Make careful and strategic choices as how to organise, order and convey
skills
7. It should be „You‟ attitude not self.
8. Use most impressive and power words
9. Result oriented approach is used
10. Use phrases instead of long sentences
11. Use laser printer
12. Watch the tense used
13. Experience section should come before education details

What not to write in a résumé

1. Word Résumé or C V on the top

2. Fluffy rambling/ objective sentences
3. Salary
4. Full addresses of the former employers
5. Reasons for leaving previous jobs
6. Personal statistics
7. References
8. Your weaknesses

Discussion/Activity
Google and find out the different formats of the three kinds of Résumé i.e.
Chronological, functional and combination.

E Correspondence
E mail is a medium of electronic communication. It can be used for intra and
inter communication .These are quick in transcending the information to far off
places.
Characteristics of e-mail

1. Concise fewest possible words are used

2. Accurate format is used
3. Clear: simple, familiar, direct and specific words ,appropriate linkers and
transitional signals should be used
4. Conventional tone: formal and conversational tone is used
5. Single theme: logical development of the content with sub-ordinating ideas
related to the context.

Advantages
 Speed
 Quick distribution
 Flexibility to modify, edit and revise
 Easy attachment of documents
 Low cost

E mail format
 To: receiver‟s email id

 CC (carbon copy)

 BCC (blind carbon copy) a line of privacy for people concerned

 Subject line: title of the message

 Attachments: downloading material for the receiver to read

 Body: sender‟s address, date, recipient‟s name and address, salutation,

complementary close,

Discussion questions

a. Write an email to the book seller ordering for the supply of required books
b. Send an email to the customer informing the despatch of the goods required
c. Write to your colleagues in your office to save all their documents in view of
the changes to be made in the software.

Portfolio Writing

A professional portfolio is a tangible collection of items that charts your

professional growth and illustrates the best examples of the most relevant skills
and experiences. It enables to demonstrate allied qualifications clubbed with
skills. The process of putting portfolio together helps to determine how
organized you are. It gives a clear picture of targets for chosen career. It is a
valuable tool that can be used throughout the career to assess the professional
development, negotiate effectively, prepare for performance appraisals,
navigate career transitions and track professional growth and opportunities. It
is a proof of achievements and rewards. Job seekers who use Portfolios often
receive more offers at higher starting pay.

Creating a portfolio:

Collect items that show case your skills and abilities in various areas. At the
end of each college semester or during each year of employment, collect and
file evidence of activities, work, assignment, internships, accomplishments,
special trainings, workshops and artifacts.

The artifacts are:

 Community or club activities

 College extracurricular recognition

 Class room experiences

 Special interests

 Professional memberships

 Special skills or certifications

 Work related skills

 Service or voluntary work

Next step is selecting artifacts that exhibit accomplishments. Select material
that is exemplary and lead nearer to goals

Connect material to achievements with summaries or reflection papers that

highlight learning. For example if you participate in leadership training
workshop connect the pamphlet with written summary of what is learned and
growth prospects.

Sort out portfolio materials and learning outcomes.

Assemble a working portfolio by purchasing a professional binder, divider

tabs, clear sheet protectors and creative paper. Card stock for keeping photos
and captions is a MUST. Use high quality paper for lay-out pages and strive
for consistency and professionalism

A portfolio should resemble a scrap book project.

Filter it into a targeted presentation to potential employers and graduate

schools.

For example, a presentation portfolio for a scholarship application might

include items related to Leadership, Service learning or Academic excellence.

A portfolio is a proof to show in an Interview that you are well qualified for
the job. Use SIR (situation, input and result) approach. Respond to the
questions based on the above approach.

The portfolio can never be left with the interviewers.

Discussion topic:

Create your portfolio.

 Technical Report Writing
Introduction: A Technical report is a formal report designed to convey
technical information in a clear and accessible format. It is divided into
sections which allow different readers to access different levels of information.

The purpose of the individual sections is to produce an accurate professional

document.

Rules of writing a Technical Report: Four general requirements should be met

to writing a report. They are

1. Clarity
2. Continuity
3. Conciseness
4. Objectivity

Clarity: The purpose of a technical report is to transmit conclusions and their

supportive evidences. To do this, a report must convey the exact meaning of
the writer‟s intention to the reader. Ambiguity regarding mathematical symbols
must be clearly defined, the grammatical errors should be rechecked and
figures and tables must be easily understood.

Continuity: The matter of a report should be logically arranged so that it is

interesting statement. It requires continuity between succeeding sentences,
paragraphs and sections. The transitional words, phrases and sentences may be
influencing the reader so one should be careful in maintaining the continuity.
While referring figures and tables limit the distractions the references should
be either at the beginning or at the end of the report.

Conciseness: The reports should be concisely written by using fewest possible

words and illustrations. Omit irrelevant details and conclusions. The quality of
the report is inversely proportional to the length of it. The supporting evidences
for every conclusion should be given simultaneously.

Objectivity: Technical report should show the restraint and expect the reader
evaluate the data honestly. Do not try to hide the deficiencies in the research.
No technical report is better than research. The assumptions, hypotheses and
results should be frankly stated in a report. Do not write any matter which may
cause irritation or to impress the reader.
Types of Technical Reports:

Informal reports: Memorandum, brief analysis, Tour report laboratory report

field report and inspection report

Formal reports: Committee reports Institution reports, Project reports, Survey

reports, Status reports, Progress reports, Annual reports, Letter report,
Feasibility study, Damaged report, Maintenance report and Project Proposal.

The Format of a Report

The report should contain the following sections
1. Title page / Cover page
2. Abstract
3. Contents
4. Introduction
5. Objectives
6. Procedure
7. Conclusion
8. Recommendation or suggestion
9. References / bibliography
10. Acknowledgements
11. Appendices

Title Page: The title of a report or main text word is given at the beginning of
a report in this page.

Abstract: It is the summary of the whole report including important features,

results and conclusions.

Contents: Numbers and lists of all sections and sun-sections with page
numbers. In other words this is the preface or foreword of a report.

Introduction: The objectives of writing the report should be listed.

Procedure: The method and style of writing the report may be given here.
This section separates the main ideas and puts them in a logical order. The
body of the report is divided into numbered and headed sections.
Conclusion: The summing up of the theme(s) stated in the main text.
Recommendations or Suggestions: Details of opinions for further
improvement.
References/Bibliography: Details of published sources of material, other
material including websites are given.
Acknowledgments: List of people who helped you to prepare the report. This
can be put after contents page also.
Appendices: Any other material essential for the maximum understanding of
the report.

Writing Styles:

Presentation: As a part of assessment of a technical report, the following

guidelines are recommended.
a. The report must be printed on one side of white A4 size paper. It may be
handwritten or printed.
b. Margins must be at least 2.5 inches.
c. Page numbers start after contents page. Do not number the title page,
summary and contents pages.

Planning the Report:

Collect the information from the library, handouts, lecture notes, pamphlets,
journals and reference books. Keep an accurate record of all the published
references to be used while writing a report. The following points should be
remembered while writing reference or bibliography.
 The name of the journal or article
 The author‟s name
 Title of the article
 Year of publication
 Volume number
 Issue number in brackets
 Page numbers if needed
 Edition number if required
 Publisher
 Year of publication
Creative phase of planning

Write the topics and ideas from the researched material in random order.
Arrange them into logical groups. Keep note of the topics that do not fit into
groups in case they come to use later. Put the groups into a logical sequence
which covers the topic of the report.

Structuring the Report:

Using the logical sequence of grouped ideas, write a rough outline with
Headings and Sub- headings.

Writing the first Draft

For the course work assignments, the readers, particularly in professional
context would like to consider the level of details given in the report. Begin
writing the main text not the introduction. Follow the outline in terms of
headings and side headings. Let the Ideas flow. Do not worry about style,
spelling or word processing. If you are stuck, go back to the outline plan and
make more detailed preparatory notes to get the flow again. Make rough
sketches of diagrams or graphs. Keep a numbered list of references as they are
included in the write up. Put the quoted texts in quotation marks. Write the
conclusion next, followed by the introduction. Do not write the summary at
this stage.

Revising the first draft

The report will take shape from this step. The accuracy and conciseness of the
subject matter is a prime point here. Whatever information intended to reach
the reader should be concentrated upon. To achieve the above result, the means
would help more than words. Diagrams, graphs, tables and pictorial
representations are the most widely used tools in revising the draft.

The Report Layout

Appearance of a report is as important as its content. An attractive, clearly
organized report stands a better chance of being read. Use a standard 12pt font
Times New Roman in the main text. Use different font sizes, bold, italics and
underline wherever necessary. Do not make too many changes in the type
style. Use side headings to break up the text and to facilitate reader.
Styles
A report document mostly uses styles called Normal, Caption, Header,
Programme etc. There are a few other points to note like, footer or foot notes.
As far as possible, a report should contain limited number of styles.

Note
Professional reports generally do not increase the font size for titles and
headings.

Length: There will not be extra credits for long reports. So, concise reports are
preferred.

Originality and Plagiarism

Whenever you make use of other people‟s ideas or facts, you must indicate this
in the references. Any phrases, sentences or paragraphs which are copied
unaltered must be enclosed in quotation marks and referenced by a number.
The material which is not reproduced unaltered should not be put in quotations,
but still must be referenced. It is not sufficient to list the sources of information
at the end of the report; indicate the sources of information individually within
the report using the reference numbering system.

Finalizing the report:

Add page numbers, contents and title pages and summarize. The summary
should indicate the scope of the report and give conclusions. It must be
intelligible

Proof-reading

Re-checking every aspect of the written matter from the beginning to the end is
absolutely necessary. This act should be either done by the author or given to
someone else to check the contents, style, structure and layout. Don‟t forget to
record the person‟s name in acknowledgment.

Topics for discussion

1. Write a letter report for establishing language lab in engineering colleges

with advanced software.
2. Write a note report of the importance of reading rooms in college libraries.
3. Write a technical report on the collapse of a newly constructed bridge to a
newspaper
4. Report on the educational tour undertaken by your college.
 Unit-4
Activities on Presentation Skills

An oral presentation is a formal address by a person to a group of people with

or without using visual aids and other tolls like slide show, video or audio clip
successful presentations are designed to meet the needs and expectations of the
audience. It serves varies purposes such as improving speaking skills, increase
the chances of getting good jobs and to gauge the strength of oneself regarding
language competency an persuasive skills. It is therefore, a conscious effort of
the speaker and is a purposeful communication and establishes the reputation
of the speaker.
To quote Emerson, “All the great speakers were the products of rehearse and
practice”

TYPES OF ORALPRESENTATIONS:-
There are broadly three types of oral presentations. They are
i. Impromptu
ii. Extempore
iii. Seminar

Impromptu

Impromptu refers to the type of oral presentation were the person has to speak
on the spot without any previous preparation this skill demands a good level of
presence mind and self confidence apart from the skill of organizing the
materiel in a quick pace. Impromptu reflects highly competitive and agile
environment in which we work.

In the absence of earlier arrangement of ideas and structuring of arguments, the

speaker might fail to present a coherence speech. The looseness as when
compare to a seminar presentation is expected. However, one should make an
attempt to reduce chaotic presentation.

Extempore
In this format of presentation, the speaker is given time for presenting his
speech. He or she has time to work and rework his or her arguments and ideas
taking into consideration the equipments of the delivery say brevity, coherence
and ample supporting evidence etc. in extempore, we cannot directly use the
materiel, that is, read it out while delivering it to the audience. Consequently,
extempore presentation demands a deeper and thorough understanding of the
issue/topic being spoken.

Seminar
For a student, seminar is important an early exposure to this form of oral
presentation is a must. Seminars are regularly organized and conducted in
colleges with a primary objective of evaluating certain features that are present
in both the two earlier forms---- Impromptu and Extempore. These provide the
speaker with ample time to collect the material and organize ideas. Further, in
a seminar like impromptu, the presence of mind, quick k grasp of situation and
prompt action are essential. In a seminar the speaker can access his or her
material directly.

Elements of oral presentation

A typical presentation will have the following steps
A) Introduction
B) Main Body
C) Conclusion
D) Questions and responses

Introduction: A well beginning is half done. The speaker has to prepare

thoroughly and motivate the audience. The introduction therefore should be
attractive, attention drawing and thought provoking. There are various ways to
kick-start the presentation.
 Greet the audience
 Introduce yourself
 Announce the topic either by asking questions or by directly giving clues
before declaring it.
 Explain the purpose of the presentation
 Maintain time (duration of the pot)
 Specify when you would like to ask questions
 Give an outline of the ppt

Main Body
The main body should contain relevant matter, preferably divided into sub
titles. Orderly arrangement of these should cohere with the content. The
relationship between the themes and arguments should be clearly stated. It
should contain a situation wherein, the audience can effectively relate.
Conclusion
The main point here is, to reinforce the central idea, giving a brief summary of
the main points.
“Great is the art of the beginning. But greater is the ending”

Specific Objectives of an oral presentation

1. Planning: -
a. Purpose
b. Audience
c. Data needed and collection of it
d. The action plan

2. Topic selection:- Right topic suitable for self and also for audience

3. Purpose:- Simple, concise statement of intention that helps to feel the pulse
of the listener throughout the presentation

Steps involved in oral presentation

1. Deciding the topic. It is good to choose a topic that is decent and relevant
2. Collecting or gathering information, data and visuals on the topic chosen,
accessing library, internet and discussion with people.
3. Arranging the information in a coherent manner.
4. A rough draft should be prepared keeping the length and time of the
presentation.
5. Revise the rough draft number of times, to make it error proof.
6. Practice is essential. Rehearsing the speech before presenting it helps in
boosting the confidence. It helps to understand the flaws in delivery of speech
for necessary correction. Take the help of a friend or a mirror to practice.

Discussion Question
Prepare a presentation on any interesting topic of your choice.
 Unit-5
Activities on Group Discussion and Interview Skills

Interview is an opportunity to meet the challenges of professional life on the

one hand and to get skilled personnel for the employer. It is an opportunity for
both employee and employer. If the applicant wants to exhibit his skills,
knowledge, self-confidence and motivation, the interview is the only way to
determine the candidate‟s caliber.

The interview has a wide range of uses. It is a form of oral communication, one
to one or one to group interaction which proves the unique identity of the
applicant. Every interview has some process involving the following steps.

1. Type of interview
2. How to start an interview
3. Establishing rapport
4. Exchanging information
5. Closing the interview
6. Follow-up after the interview
7. Conclusion

A few aspects regarding interview process are:

1. Arrangement of place , time and questions
2. Acquiring job related information and knowledge about the requirement
3. Assessing SWOC of one self
4. Opening strategies

Planning for the interview:

After sending Résumé to a company, the candidate will get a call from the
hiring manager. The interview may be either a phone interview or in-person
interview. The phone interviews give a chance to the employer to feel your
skill set on conserving. In-person interview are usually conducted if the
candidate survives the initial phone interview. Mostly the in-person interviews
are based in asking questions relevant the job or to the person by a panel of
members.
The opening strategies:

There are two stages in opening an interview.

1. Entrance and introduction: The best way to enter an interview room is to

knock, ask for permission to enter and then wait for a while before sitting
down. Try to be comfortable keeping your hands in the lap.

a. Be presentable, have time sense, composed and give candid replies.

b. Be focused
c. Maintain eye contact
d. Introduce yourself clearly
e. Smile
f. Be expressive. Avoid using monotone.
g. Pronounce words clearly
h. Be concise
i. Stay focused and to the point
j. Be direct
k. Use appropriate hand gestures to emphasize key points
l. Negotiate well

2. Attitude and Response: Interviewers will give a lead to the candidates. So

try and take cues from the tonal variations, facial expressions and thrust of
questions.

a. Family background
b. Education
c. Initiation
d. Interpersonal skills
e. Aptitude
f. Appealing gestures
In any interview there are three stages:

1. Pre interview
 Identify your strengths and weaknesses, goals, skills, etc
 Research the company
 Rehearse what you plan to say
 Practice answers to common questions
 Prepare questions to ask the employer

2. Process interview
 Make sure you arrive a few minutes early
 Be aware of nonverbal communication. Sit up straight, look alert, speak
clearly and forcefully, but stay relaxed. Make good eye contact, avoid
nervous mannerisms, and try to be a good listener as well as a good
talker. Smile!
Follow the interviewer‟s lead, but try to get the interviewer to describe the
position and duties to you fairly early in the interview so that you can then
relate your background and skills in context 
 Be specific, concrete, and detailed in your answers. The more
information you volunteer, the better the employer gets to know yo
 Offer examples of your work and references which will document your
best qualities
 Answer questions as truthfully and as frankly as you can. Answer
honestly, while trying not to say more than is necessary
3. Post interview
 Take notes on what you feel you could improve upon for your next
interview
 Write a brief thank-you letter to interviewer indicating your interest
within 24 hours of your interview
 If offered the position, one to two weeks is a reasonable amount of time
to make a decision. All employment offers deserve whether you accept
them or not
Interview preparation

Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview. Spend time in thinking

about yourself and the questions you might ask at the end of interview. Self-
assessment will enable you to know what you have to offer an employer. It is
very important to develop an inventory of skills, experience and personal
attributes that can be used to „sell yourself‟ to employers.

Following is a list of marketable skills which are generic in nature.

 Analytical/Problem solving
 Flexibility/Versatility
 Interpersonal
 Oral/Written communication
 Organization/Planning
 Time management
 Motivation
 Leadership
 Self-starter/Initiative
 Team player

Types of interviews

1. Face to face interview

2. Group interview
3. Behavioral interview
4. Telephone interview
5. Panel interview
6. Stress interview
7. Video Conferencing
Face to face interview: This is also known as traditional interview. In this
kind of interview the employer and the job seeker can get to know each other
about respective environment.
Group Interview: These interviews are conducted by large companies or
MNC‟s for graduates at a time. They may give some exercises to solve in a
group and observes the leadership and communication skills of the
participants. These interviews test the team work, listening comprehension and
stress managing skills among the group.
Behavioral Interview: In this, the candidates are asked to explain their skills,
experience, hobbies, projects and personal details.

Telephone Interview: These are to reduce the expenses of reaching the spot.

Panel interviews: The candidates will meet several higher authorities and
answer the critical questions by a panel of members. Usually this method is
used to hire for advanced positions.

Stress interview: The main purpose of this interview is to test the candidate‟s
ability to handle stress situations. The employer will ask continuous questions
to answer without giving time to think. The interviewer might openly
challenge beliefs or judgment. Sometimes impossible tasks are given to test
your abilities but not aim at a solution.

Interview through Videoconferencing

Interviews are also held through video conferencing. This is very akin to a
face-to face job interview because the interviewers can watch the candidate
answering the question, and can also assess his/her behavior and non-verbal
gestures. Some organizations prefer to have a screening interview through
video conferencing. The video conferencing interview follows a fixed
structure. The number of interviewers varies from one to eight. The chair
person of the selection committee introduces the members of the committee to
the candidate. Each expert may talk to the candidate and asks him/her
questions. This will continue until each member talks to the candidate. As the
form and structure of a videoconferencing interview is akin to face-to-face
personal interview, the candidate may apply the same techniques and strategies
of interviewing.

Tips for successful interviews:

 Keep all necessary information within your reach
 Don‟t be afraid, have a glass of water
 Be a good listener
 Dress well (Formal)
 Switch off cell phone
 Keep control on body movements
  Maintain eye contact
 Don‟t give pauses
 Have a Smile on the face

Discussion Questions

There are mainly seven types of questions that occur during interviews.
1. Open questions: To encourage the candidates to feel at –home. E.g.
(i) Name some of your interests?
(ii) Tell something about yourself

2. Closed questions: To limit the scope of responses with specific answers. E.g.
What is data processing?

3. Probing questions: To test the deeper understanding of the subject. E.g. Do

you think recession might help Developing Countries?

4. Reflective questions: To confirm the candidate‟s statements. eg. Do you

want the public sector companies be privatized?

5. Loaded questions: To judge the abilities. Eg. You are too short. Don‟t you
think this is going to be a handicap for you?

6. Hypothetical questions: To test the problem solving capacity. Eg. How do

you tackle the problem of difference of opinion with your Boss at work?

7. Leading questions: To know the desired response. Eg. What is opinion about
TRP ratings?

General HR interview questions with possible answers:

1. How would you describe yourself?

My background to date has been centered on preparing myself to become the

very best engineer I can become. I was born and raised in …………….. I‟ve
graduated from the JNT University with a B.Tech degree in…………. I have
worked for 2 years as a junior engineer in LQ-Soft solutions. I enjoy playing
cricket in my free time and learning languages.

2. What specific goals, including those related to your occupation, have you
established for your life?

I want to be working for an excellent company like yours. I plan to contribute

my leadership, interpersonal, and technical skills. My long-range career goal is
to be the best engineer I can for the company I work for.

3. How has your college experience prepared you for this career?

I have prepared myself to transition into the work force through real-world
experience involving travel abroad, internship, and entrepreneurial
opportunities which were given to me at our college. As you can see from my
academic, extracurricular and experiential background, I have unconditionally
committed myself to success as an engineering professional.

4. What influenced you to choose this career?

I like engineering because my potential for success is limited only by how

much of myself I dedicate toward my goal. If any profession is founded on
self-determinism, it surely must be engineering.

5. Do you have the qualifications and personal characteristics necessary for

success in your chosen career?

I believe I have a combination of qualities to be successful in this career. First,

I have a strong interest, backed by a solid, well-rounded, state-of the-art

education, especially in a
career that is technically oriented. I am convinced that I possess these
characteristics and am ready to be a successful team member for your firm.

6. Are you more energized by working with data or by collaborating with other
individuals?

I like the validity of information and also like the energy that comes with
working with people?
The best thing about working in a group is combining the great minds from
different perspectives and coming up with something extremely great,
compared with when you‟re working alone. At the same time, information can
generate vitality in the project you‟re working on.

7. How would you describe yourself in terms of your ability to work as a

member of a team?

I have had opportunities in both athletics and academics to develop skills as a

team player. I have experience of being team leader to do a project. I
maintained excellent communication among group members and coordinated
towards reaching our team goals.

8. Would you describe yourself as goal-driven?

Yes. I demonstrated my goal orientation as president of the local community

service. I am proud of the fact that I set a goal of signing 50 new members this
year and accomplished it.

9. Can you describe your long-range goals and objectives?

My primary objectives are to learn as much as possible about your company

and learn professional techniques.

10. What do you expect to do in n next five years?

Although it is hard to predict future, I sincerely believe that I will become a

successful engineer.

11. How would you evaluate your ability to deal with conflict?

Yes. I believe that I am good at handling it. I explain what I need from the task
given.

12. Would you say that you can easily deal with high –pressure situations?

Yes. My past experiences gave me the courage to deal with serious situations
effectively attending to emergency on-call duties also.
13. What were the reasons to select this college?

This college has had a reputation as having an excellent infrastructure and

state-of-Art class rooms and skilled faculty to nurture my career.

14. Do you thing that your grades are an indication of your academic
achievements?

I have focused on gaining real- world experience. Sometimes my heavy load

has not allowed me to keep up with my studies, but my experience can be
applied in my future endeavor.

15. Describe the characteristics of a successful leader?

A successful leader should have vision, formulate strategies and communicates

to the team members.

16. Tell me what do you know about our company?

You are respected worldwide. Over the last fifteen to twenty years you have
excellent track record and won many awards.

17. Which is more important to you, the job or salary?

Salary commensurate with my experience and skills.

18. How do you determine priorities in scheduling your time?

I know time management skills. I list the works as per their importance and
complete the work.

19. Tell me about a time you had to handle multiple responsibilities?

While attending the college, I worked as a part timer in another firm and was
successful.

As a student, I was coordinator for cultural, literary and sports committees.

20. What is your greatest strength and weakness?

I work well under pressure to reach the deadlines. My weakness is I work too
hard.

21. How would you deal with difficult persons?

I would first keep an open mind and listen to them, which in itself calms down
most people.

22. What motivates you?

Recognition and promotion.

23. What is your definition of success?

Success is never giving up.

24. Why should we choose you?

Because I am the best and most appropriate person for this job.

25. If we did offer you the job, how would you react?

I would take it, thank you very much, when can I start (or) let me request you
to give me time as I am slightly indisposed.
 Group Discussion
Introduction

A group discussion (GD) is a type of interactive, oral communication which

takes place when a group of people get together to discuss something. A group
discussion can be informal or formal. An informal group discussion occurs
when a group of friends talk about things in general at their college canteen,
outside the classroom, at a bus stop or any other place; or when a family talks
about various things, or when a group of people talk about various matters,
such as sports, train travel, price rise, examinations, favorite film stars etc. In
these informal discussions, each one freely expresses his/her views on the
subject. In formal contexts, group discussions are increasingly used as a tool to
identify candidates with the right abilities, either for employment or for
admission to various courses. As the term itself suggests, a GD is a discussion,
but most students misinterpret it to be a debate. What is actually expected in a
GD is participation in a systematic way on a particular topic finding a solution
to it...

The prospect of a GD tends to leave good number of participants petrified.

You can get rid of that feeling of fear by remembering you have experienced
group discussions right from childhood. Remember those heated discussions
you had across the dinner table with family members, friends and relatives?
Consciously or unconsciously, they have helped you learn a thing or two about
discussing in a group. As a result, you would have often felt the desire to prove
that you were right and they were wrong. A bundle of angst would build within
you. Discard that feeling now. Remember, a GD is a discussion -- and not a
debate -- between the members of a group.

There are two kinds of GD. Structured and Unstructured

Structured GD is where each participant gets specific time to speak.

Unstructured is anyone in the group can speak at any point of time without
disturbing general decorum.
Uses of a GD

1. To express important points about a given topic.

2. Telling facts about the topic with justification
3. To develop oratory skills
4. To drive fear away
5. To share opinions
6. To arrive at a positive conclusion

The main areas of a GD are

1. Subject knowledge about current affairs, politics, social issues, economic

issues, scientific and environmental problems.
2. Analysis will help to discard unimportant and irrelevant points
3. GD develops communication skills such as listening, language, expression,
articulation and pronunciation, verbal and non-verbal.
4. It develops leadership skills like initiation, assertiveness, self confidence,
persuasiveness, patience, body language and motivation.
5. Team management skills include adaptability, positive thinking,
cooperation, coordination and correcting attitudinal lapses.

Dynamics of GD

1. The opening of a GD should be attractive and direct the course of

discussion.
2. Reasoning ability plays an important role.
3. Plan a strategy
4. The motivator or the leader of a group should roll the topic on, avoiding
pauses.
5. The leader should see that bitter arguments and personal criticism are
avoided
6. Understanding the topic from all possible angles
7. Summing up is very important for a good GD
8. Proper body language and eye contact makes a GD effective.
9. Use position, reason, example and position formula

Useful phrases of a GD
 Agreeing: You are absolutely right
 Disagreeing: I am sorry, I don‟t see it in that way
 Interrupting: Sorry, do you mind, if I say something here?
 Dealing with interruptions: Could I just finish with what I am saying?
 Asking for information: Would you mind saying a little more about it?
 Adding more information: Another point I would like to make is…..

Different parts of a GD (for 15 minutes GD)

 Chaos period (1-2 minutes)
 Period of generating ideas (7-8 minutes)
 Building discussion on the ideas (5-6 minutes)
 Conclusion (1 minute)

Strategies for effective group discussion

1. The opening sentences should create enthusiasm and interest among the
listeners.
2. Systematic implementation of the content.
3. Body gestures or non verbal communication should be balanced.
4. Balancing the points of discussion when opposition is raised.
5. Anticipation of possible disruptions.
6. Politeness doesn‟t tend to either muteness or muttering.
7. Open mindedness
8. Cheerful personality while recapping the ideas.

Do’s of a GD
 Listen to the speaker carefully
 Put your thoughts on paper
 Initiate the discussion if you are thorough with the subject.
 Support your point with some facts and figures.
 Give others a chance to speak and respect their contribution.
 Disagree politely.
 Do not forget to summarize, if you are the initiator.

Don’ts of a GD

 Sitting with crossed arms and legs.

 Throwing your body organs or limbs.
 Fidgeting
 Sitting stiff
 Scratching, pricking or rubbing
 Expressing anger or uncontrollable laughter
 Over speak or intervene without proper usage of vocabulary
 Argue or shout
 Erratic statistics
 Speak about intercultural or socio economic background of any
participant.

A few expressions used in GD

Activity Expression

1. Lead the discussion *It is not difficult to understand the

problem but…..
 *The actual point of discussion is….
*Dear friend, don‟t deviate

2. Draw someone into discussion *what is your opinion about this?

*Do you agree, if I say…?
*May I draw your attention…..?

3. Refocus the discussion *for instance or example

* I think we are drifting

4. Help someone to participate * Can you speak something…?

* Can you elaborate?
*Please continue…

5. Make suggestions *could you explain?

*Can you give details…?

6. Conclude *at the end, I say

* I will sum up

Discussion Topics

1. Disaster management is still a dream in India.

2. Why should only Gandhiji‟s imprint be on currency?

3. Research is stealing.

4. Indians lack etiquette.

5. Women empowerment is a curse for mankind.