International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7 (4.

36) (2018) 669-673

International Journal of Engineering & Technology

Website: www.sciencepubco.com/index.php/IJET

Research paper

Developing Productive Skills Through Receptive Skills – A

Cognitive Approach
S. Sreena1*, M. Ilankumaran2
1Research Scholar, Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, Kumaracoil.
2Professor of English, Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, Kumaracoil.
E-mail:[email protected]
*Corresponding author E-mail:[email protected]

Abstract

Communication plays an important role nowadays. The transmission and interchange of ideas, facts, and feelings of action are known as
communication. It is done through words, actions, signs, objects or combination of all these. Communication skills are needed in each
and every field of life. Everyone uses a language to communicate and to express oneself to get ideas and to connect with persons for a
purpose. There are four basic skills of learning English language such as speaking, listening, reading and writing. The difficulties in
speaking and writing can be found and then improved by some classroom activities by the way of giving task to the students for listening.
Teachers give assignments to the learners to develop their writing skills. Cognition refers to the mental activities like thinking,
remembering, memory, learning, comprehension, perception, motivation and using a language. The understanding and learning of
information and concept is known as the cognitive approach. It is an approach that maintains how a person feels and behaves. Cognitive
learning is about developing true understanding and is a way of learning that helps the learners to use their brains more effectively. The
configuration of thought processes and psychological activities like problem solving and decision making from early childhood to
adulthood is called as the cognitive development. This article deals with the ways and means of enhancing the speaking skills by
intensive practise, writing through different activities and improving the receptive skills of the learners through cognitive approach.

Keywords: Communication, language, listening, speaking, reading, writing, thinking, remembering, memory, perception, motivation.

1. Introduction remarkable speed, the use of language in communication is still

not so. There should be a co-operation and understanding between
those who are in communication. So, they need a common
Language has been a tool for communication for centuries. It is
language for mutual understanding. Communication is done
the way to interact with people to regulate their social behaviour.
through words, actions, signs, objects or a combination of all these
Though there are many ways for communication, language is
that takes place in a well-defined setup. This is called
widely used as a tool. The process of sharing the information is
communication environment. A classroom is a communication
communication. The transmission and interchange of ideas, facts,
environment where a teacher teaches or lectures to students.
feelings or action is known as the process of communication.
Language is a tool that is used for communication. Mother tongue
Language is important for communication. Language is the
and the second language are used for communication.
expression of human personality in words whether in speech or
letter. It serves as the universal medium for conveying the
common facts and feelings of everyday life. Students
2.1. Communication skill
communicate with one another and with the teacher. Through the
A teacher makes use of activities that is specially designed to
basic ofthe language skills, the learner can improve knowledge in
incorporate several language skills such as reading, writing,
the second language. This paper concentrates on importance and
listening and reading. The teacher offers their students with
barriers of the communication skills. The development of
situations that allow them to develop and progress of language
productive skills by the receptive skills has widely been
learning. Through daily activities, teachers provide learners with
highlighted in this paper.
opportunities to develop each skill. The students listen to the
teacher using the second language to each other in a pair activity.
2. Communication They use speaking skills for pronunciation practise, dialogue
creation, speed reading, role play, etc. The teacher asks the
Communication is derived from the Latin word “communicare” or students to read passages in the classroom. The writing skill is
“communico” which means “to share”. Communication means applied in fill-in-the blank sheets, sentence making, dialogue
what one gives and gets understood. It is an exchange of words script, etc.
and meanings through ideas, facts, feelings and actions.
“Communication skill is concerned with the ability to transmit and
receive messages” (Senapathy,4). The communication is a two-
way process of sending and receiving messages. Language is the
most prized wealth of man. Though human is progressed with
Copyright © 2018 Authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
670 International Journal of Engineering & Technology

3. Significance of english language understanding of the message. Imagination is increased through

listening and reading.
English is a unique language. It is different from other languages
functionally and structurally. It is used as an official language
3.5. Need of Receptive Skills
even in India. English is the only language which links the whole
A large amount of reading and listening takes place because it
world together. Even if people travel to different countries where
helps the students achieve the clear aim. For example, if someone
different languages are spoken, English is the common language
reads a roads sign so that they know where to go. Students listen
to express their views on situations. English is an important
to lectures, seminars and talks for extending their knowledge and
language as it is used in teaching and learning process. In western
skills. Listening is a hub of all learning. A student who cannot
countries, English is used as the first language and in some
understand what the teacher says in a class is seriously slowdown
countries, it is taught as a second language in schools. It has
in the learning.
widely spread across the globe. One of the main reasons for
English being used as an important language is that it is demanded
in modern life. English language is a tool to establish one’s view 3.6. Development of Receptive Skills
point. A language shapes the way how people perceive the world.
The receptive skills are to be improved through the improvement
of listening and reading. A student is a good listener and careful
3.1. Fundamental skills of english language
reader as well. Through the interest and search of knowledge, the
learner may earn maximum receptive skills. The ability to
For a good communication, the communication skills are
makeout something remain questionable until it reaches
essential. The basic skills are listening, speaking, reading and
perfection. A student may understand a well written essay but he
writing. These are called the “language skills”. The four language
cannot produce it perfectly without practise. For a good output, an
skills are related to each other in two ways. Language skills are
input is necessary. Absorption and concentration is important for
divided into receptive skills and productive skills otherwise
listening. The reading needs an extensive study to improve it. The
known as active and passive skills. The passive skills deal with
best selection of materials for reading, different ideas on the same
listening and speaking while the active skills focus on the reading
subject also help to improve these skills.
and writing. Without listening, no speaking is possible, without
reading no writing is possible. So, the four skills go in pairs.
3.7. Cognitive Approach to Learning
3.2. Productive Skills
Cognition is the mental process. It is an action of acquiring
knowledge and understanding through the mental activities like
Productive skills are speaking and writing. The learners who
thinking, remembering, memory, perception, motivation, problem
possess efficient productive skills are able to produce something.
solving and decision making. This concept is known as cognitive
They are also known as active skills. Learners need to generate
learning. Cognitive learning theory explains how a person’s brain
language to communicate their ideas either in speech or text.
functions around these activities. The brain is the most valuable
“Three things matter in a speech; who says it, how he says it and
and incredible source of information processing and developing
what he says. And, of the three, the last matters the least” (Mishra,
the ideas and interpretation in the body to know the things. The
55). Speaking skill is apparent in society in various styles such as
word learning is naturally connected with brain and is identified as
formal, informal, normal, strong, etc. These styles are situation
using the brain to think. It is basically linked with cognition. A
based and it is important for speakers to strike the right thoughts.
cognitive approach in learning has been used to explain the mental
For example, learners have already spent time practicing receptive
activities and they are influenced both intrinsic and extrinsic
skills within a shape of a poem, by listening to it and reading it.
factors, and the outcome is the learning of a person.
They now move on to productive skills by writing of their own.

3.3. Needs of Productive Skills 3.8. Thinking

Thinking is considered to be the most important cognitive skill of

Speaking skills need a wide attitude and modern ideas. It also
a learner. It is a mental process of considering or reasoning about
needs an expression as well. This isto make the speaker confident
something. It improves the ability to learn in an effective manner.
to express what he communicates. Some speaking situations are
Thinking process happened and regardless of age, experience and
partially interactive especially when speech is given to a live
education, it is always possible to optimize the ability to learn new
audience. For communication point of view, the writing is lucid
skills. Thinking process plays a massive role in determining the
and clear. Writing is one way of providing variety in classroom
psychological ability to learn new information and make progress
procedures. It provides a learner with physical evidence of his
in life. This thinking process leads a person to master over other
achievements and his improvement could be noticed easily. It
skills. It makes a person more intelligent, informed and helps to
helps him to grasp the vocabulary and structure, and complements
take rational decisions in life. Thinking helps to read, write and
the other language skills. In the act of writing, the effort to express
communicate effectively and very quickly. It is the most essential
ideas and the constant use of eyes, hand and brain contains a
foundation of the cognitive learning and develops the mind’s
unique way of supporting learning and discovering new ways of
educational abilities of a person. Thinking has to be refined at any
expressing ideas. Every act of writing is seen as an act of reading
age of a person, without this cognitive skill learning new
and reading itself is a kind of writing.
information and innovation becomes a difficult task. Thinking
skill of a person is an excellent resource for enhancing the
3.4. Receptive Skills
learning abilities. It makes people become successful and
independent learners.
Receptive skills are the ability to listen and understand a language.
Critical thinking makes a person able to form opinions by looking
Reading and listening are receptive skills. “Listening is stage one
at the facts behind an argument and also helps easily sort relevant
of responding act of a communicating event. Listening is a
information from the irrelevant. Proper thinking exercises help to
sustained effort to receive sound and make meaning. It opens up
improve the critical thinking of a person. The person has to
possibilities for continuing interaction” (Lakshminarayanan, 57).
engage in an argument with someone as it highlights the
Language is received and meaning is decoded for the easy
difficulties in thinking. A clear logical argument helps a lot to
International Journal of Engineering & Technology 671

develop the critical thinking of a person. It develops the is like the senses of listening, seeing, smelling, tasting and feeling.
productive and receptive skills of communication in an efficient Perception leads to conclusions from the sensory experience of a
way. person. It may different in different persons. Perception is based
on individual’s interest, past experience, personality and personal
3.9. Learning characteristics. It affects the mental content of the learner. Visual
perception is critical in cognitive processing. Perception is the
Learning is an important cognitive skill. It happened during the process of absorbing things, organizing it in the brain and making
time of traditional schooling. This type of learning process does sense of it. Visual perception deals with absorbing what one sees
not directly relevant to everyday life. These cognitive skills of and takes it for granted. Reading is one of the most common
learning mean absorbing a very little real information for life. One examples of visual perception. Visual perception difficulty can
of the most important parts of effective learning is how to learn. cause problems with cognitive processes. Perception of new ideas
Learning to learn teaches a person how to develop an intimacy of and receptive skills may lead to productive skills. Reading is the
learning and that will help a person to acquire new skills and main path to acquire the communicative skills; it is evident how
quickly expand the knowledge of many subjects. Intelligent is not important visual perception is to learning. A learner is being able
a factor in a learning process. It is difficult to learn something to focus and pay attention is the basic skill of learning. Attention
new, when a person is incapable of focussing on the task. Being is also a cognitive process, and it avoids distractions in the
able to productive is one of the most relevant skills that a person environment in order to focus on what is important. Visual
can develop and surprisingly easy one to learn. A learner can use perception is lead to visual attention. Attention and perception are
simple exercises and behavioural changes to optimum the cognitive processes of an expert in learning in the productive
productivity in learning. Productivity course is an excellent skills of communication.
resource for improving an effective output and to enhance the
ability to learn. Cognitive learning is the foundation of educational 3.12. Motivation
success. A person of any age or any kind has to be attained this
valuable skill. A person, whether just beginning the educational Motivation is the most important cognitive skill to develop the
career or an end of it, the cognitive skill of learning is always got communication abilities. It has several effects on learner’s
its priority. learning and their behaviour. It promotes an interest in the studies
and develops the personality of a person. Motivation directs
3.10. Remembering and memory behaviour towards particular goal. As cognitive theory proposed
that each individual setshis/her own goals and change the
Memory is one of the most important cognitive functions in a behaviour based on it. Motivation identifies the specific goals
person’s activities. It helps to remember all kinds of activities like towards which the learner takes the effort. It is based on the
personal memories, common knowledge, and developing skills. It choices of the learner. Motivation directs to increased effort and
is very much necessary in creating and developing one’s energy of the learner and it is directly related to the needs and
personality. Memory allows recalling the productive and receptive goals. Motivation develops the initiative process and continuation
skills and helps to improve effective communication process. of those activities. The learner always has a hesitation to begin
There are two kinds of memory. They are verbal and visual any task, but motivation provides an enthusiasm to start the
memory. Verbal memory allows a person to memorize whatever learning activity. Motivation is the most vibrant factor affecting
he/she hears. It can be recalled in few minutes later. Verbal the learning and achievement of a learner. Motivation affects what
information is easier to remember than visual memory. It is the learner’s attention to and how effectively they develop it in to
because; visual memory needs the cognitive skill of attention and a meaningful context. It affects the cognitive process of the
it should be analysed for memorization. Memory acts as a bridge learner. Motivated learner pays more attention to the studies and
between past and present. Past sensations, feelings and ideas that to learn meaningfully and used it for better life. The learners are
have dropped from conscious awareness can be continuously motivated to achieve academic goals and are accepted and
recovered to guide current thought and action through memory. respected by the peers. Motivation often enhances improved
There is a traditional segmentation of memory according to how performances. Learners are most likely to show the beneficial
long information has to be remembered for. They are sensory effects of motivation, when they are motivated through
memory, short term memory and long term memory. The visible psychologically. Cognitive motivation is the longest and an
persistence on memory is sensory memory and it is the shortest effective medium to achieve the goals like learning and
one to remember. The limited capacity of storage and retains the developing the communication skills. A person’s cognition,
ideas a little longer is short term memory. Long term memory has environment and behaviour play an important role in learning new
an unlimited capacity of storage and the information remembered knowledge and productive skills.
for a long period of time. Memory is a cognitive function to
remember all types of information a person passes on every day. 4. Problem Solving
The cognitive skills of memory help to develop the common
knowledge, personal memories and the motor processes of a
person. Problem solving is a cognitive process of human brain that
A learner needs to focus the attention on the thing to be investigates an immediate result for a given problem or finds a
memorized. The learner of a language has to identify the essential way to reach the ultimate goal. When a problem substance is
information for understanding. A person can notify the relevant found out, problem solving can be perceived as a finding process
information to be remembered. People can organize the in the memory space and reached the conclusion of solving
information into categories and make connections and process. The problem has to be analysed and discovered in a
associations. People always recall the information already learned detailed manner, and then finds out the best solution to resolve the
can improve the memorization of a learner. Recalling memory and problem. Every problem has a solution depending on its situation.
remembering of learned things help a lot to develop the In cognitive learning, problem solving is not only necessary for
communication skills of a learner. solving mental issues of the brain but also refers to solving any
kind of problems in studies in a proper manner. There are various
psychological steps to solve a problem while learning something.
3.11. Cognitive perception
The learner can identify the problem. It is not an easy task. If a
person wrongly identifies the problem the rendering steps carried
The way in which a person deals with information from the
on useless. The problem in learning process is identified properly
environment using the senses is known as Cognitive perception. It
672 International Journal of Engineering & Technology

is the first step in problem solving. Once the learner identifies the The students are engaged in the task as if there is a much better
problem then he/she must understand the nature of the problem. chance that they will read or listen with concentration, whether
Then only further steps are taken to solve it. The learner needs to they are interested or not in the topic. It makes the students
take different perspectives to understand the problem. Each engaged in the topic by depicting a picture for prediction, by
situation will require different strategies based on the uniqueness asking them to make a guess what to see or hear on the basis of a
of the problem. Immediate solution is not possible for a problem. few words or phrases from the text.
So, the learner creates different strategies to find the correct result. ```The kinds of tasks are those which help to raise the students
The learner has to organize the available information as the next expectations and instigate an examination of the reading or
step to the process. Clarity of the solution for a problem will listening passage. Unlike reading and listening tests, these tasks
depend on the amount of information available. Proper bring them to understand language and text construction very
organization of the material, allocation of resources is more much. By having performance activities to students such as filling
necessary to solve the problem. The learner gives more in forms on the basis of a listening tape, or solving reading
concentration to the problem, then move on to the solution. The puzzles, the students may become good readers and listeners. This
learner needs to document the progress regularly. Problem solving study tells that through certain activities the skills can be
does not occur instantly. When the learner finds out the solution improved for the development of productive skills because
for a problem, then he/she must monitor the progress. Finally, the listening precedes speaking and reading makes a way for writing.
learner evaluates the result to find out if it is the best possible
solution to the problem. The evaluation process might be the 5. Conclusion
immediate act to refer and the solution for the problem is the apt
one.
Everyone wants English language for communication and to
4.1. Decision making struggle with the world. Effective communication will be more
important. English is taught in schools not as a language but as a
The selection of a belief or a course of action among several subject. Basically, the learners want to improve their
different possibilities is considered as the decision making communication skills because every student has an individual
process. Decision making is a cognitive process based on the character. If the learner develops his listening and reading skills
values, preferences and beliefs of the decision maker. It is a through certain practise, he is sure to get a confidence to speak in
continuous process interlinked with problem solving activity. The any situation. The teachers guide the students and give motivation
decisions taken by a learner based on his/her personal, to improve the speaking skills by giving a topic and ask the
psychological, cognitive and normative perspectives. The students to give a talk. Reading makes students to improve their
decisions should be logical, meaningful and apt for the situation. It knowledge. The efficient reading increases and improves the
is related to the environment of the learner. There are various concentration as well as the level of comprehension. The cognitive
decision making steps practised by the learner in the learning process makes the learners more confident about their learning
process. The first and foremost step is to know the objectives of process.
the task. The learner can have a clear idea about the goal and
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