In: Economics
Being able to communicate efficiently is perhaps the most valuable ability in life. It's what makes it possible for us to pass information on to other people and to understand what we're told. All you have to do is watch a baby listen intently to his mother and try to replicate the sounds that make her realize how important the desire to communicate is. Communication, in its simplest form, is the act of transmitting knowledge from one location to another. It may be vocal (using voice), written (using printed or digital media such as books , magazines, websites or emails), visual (using logos , maps , charts or graphics) or non-verbal (using body language , gestures and tone and pitch of voice).
Communication skills are needed to speak appropriately to a wide range of people while maintaining good eye contact, to demonstrate a varied vocabulary and to tailor your language to your audience, to listen effectively, to present your ideas properly, to write clearly and concisely, and to work well in a group. Many of these are important qualities that most employers are searching for.
Fluency in a language is a subset of good communication skills (in that language). Written communication skills and verbal communication skills are also very different. Let's talk first about the latter. Good communication skills (verbal) are described as getting your point across in an efficient and effective manner. This comes with a clarity of thinking complemented by confidence, a simple voice, and a choice of words that everyone will understand. Though we live in a world where productivity is of utmost importance, written communication skills are all about saying more and less.
Fluency in language includes the possession of an enviable vocabulary, the understanding of its complexities and intricacy, the precision of grammar and the ability to communicate in a language without the use of any fillers. Nevertheless, it is often helpful to be fluent in a language in order to develop one's communication skills.
Teachers and students need to consider the various forms of oral practices in foreign language teaching as well as the specific aims of the practices. Unfortunately, we every equate oral instruction with oral contact. In general , the objective of controlled practice activities is to improve accuracy, while the purpose of communicative activities is to improve fluency. While directed practical activities have their place in the early teaching of foreign languages, they are not a replacement for actual communication.