Advanced Communication

Advanced Communication (English)

Are you able to speak English well but sometimes lack the confidence in an interview? Do you at times stumble over words in front of someone you are trying to impress? This class is for anyone that is fluent or near fluent in English but would like to polish their communication skills. It will also be created around a simulation with immediate goals. Each student will become a new employee at an office selling time shares (vacation homes, yachts, etc.). This has more of a sales training focus, so the methods learned will have real world benefit for those that are in this field or hope to be soon.

This course will last five weeks and the maximum number of students will be 6 per class and minimum number of students is 4. Each week will consist of two 60 minute classes where the first one will be a traditional class of lecture, activities and feedback and the second class will be a workshop where the students will creating a project with my guidance that will showcase their skills and prepare them for their final test.

Methods that will be used to teach the course will include but are not limited to the following: audio, video, role-playing, reports, presentations, student presentation, and workshops.

Orientation (Free)

This is a short presentation about the class with time to ask questions to ensure that it is a good choice for each student. It is also the time for me to ask the students a few questions to make sure they will be able to work together well.

Week One : Listening

This week will be spent studying the process of listening, common barriers to listening and ways to improve our listening skills. In addition, the mock campaign will be introduced at this time and students will be partner up and begin their project.

Week Two : Speaking

This week will be focused on each student analyzing great speakers across the world and why they are great. Students will be challenged to take these ideas and incorporate them into their own speaking. In addition, we will analyze the foundation of speaking and I will give feedback on areas that students should focus on. Our campaign will hit a higher gear as each team will be giving a short presentation during the second class.

Week Three : Spontaneity

Do you have the ability to ‘shoot off the hip’ (as some of us Americans say) and not shoot yourself in the foot (as some of us Americans do)? This ability can all be wrapped up in one word, spontaneity. Often times if we have time to prepare what we are going to say, it isn’t a problem. However, when someone asks us an unexpected question, we get flustered and may say something regrettable. This week, we will work on ways to improve our spontaneity and answer those unexpected questions that seem to magically spew forth from customer’s mouths.

Week Four : Rapport

Some people, well some people are just naturally liked by almost everyone immediately. Is this because they are nicer than everyone else? Probably not, more than likely they know how to build rapport. While this may be one of those God given gifts to certain people, the rest of us commoners can also improve our building rapport ability. This week, we will work on building rapport while dealing with difficult customers.

Week Five : Confidence

After going through the last four weeks, everyone’s confidence ability should be much, much higher. Just in case it isn’t we will make sure it is this week. This is also the week where we will be putting together the final project and also doing the final examination. The final exam may take more time than the final 60 minutes allow but this will not cost extra.

Final Project

The capstone project will be each student calling a designated ‘customer’ and attempting to sell their time share. Students will be graded in the five key focus areas plus grammar, pronunciation and general sales ability. Detailed results will be sent to each student after the class with recommendations for each student to improve their ability in the future.

Class requirements are for each student to have a microphone, a quiet room, at least 1-2 hours to do homework for each contact hour of class, a Skype account (for some activities and for backup) and the desire to improve their communication ability.

This class will be taught through Edufire.  Please make an account with them in order to join the class.  Thanks!!