One time I was surprised by the strong remark  of my niece when she said, "Why are the rich like that?  They seem not to care for their kinsmen?"  I asked her why she had said it.  She narrated everything that she had overheard from the conversation of her aunt (my younger sister) and her new acquaintance.  She mimicked what the old man shared which she heard distinctly: "I have a sister who is a working student in a certain university in Manila.  She has to work to be able to support her studies."


         "Hi Tita," she sighed. "What seems to be weird in his story is that he owns three condo units but he does not even help his younger sister to pay for her tuition fees nor give her money for her school allowance," my niece said in an angry tone.


         While I was listening to my niece voicing out her opinion about the old man's attitude towards his sister,    I thanked God that she is very much aware of the right things to do specially when a family member is concerned.  She has matured a lot from being so carefree to being so caring.  I do hope that teenagers, nowadays, will also be loving and caring for their families.  As what the movie Pay It Forward shows, it only takes one to start the chain of love until it spreads like fire.  When that happens, this world will be a better place to live in.

      One time I was surprised by the strong remark  of my niece when she said, "Why are the rich like that?  They seem not to care for their kinsmen?"  I asked her why she had said it.  She narrated everything that she had overheard from the conversation of her aunt (my younger sister) and her new acquaintance.  She mimicked what the old man shared which she heard distinctly: "I have a sister who is a working student in a certain university in Manila.  She has to work to be able to support her studies."


         "Hi Tita," she sighed. "What seems to be weird in his story is that he owns three condo units but he does not even help his younger sister to pay for her tuition fees nor give her money for her school allowance," my niece said in an angry tone.


         While I was listening to my niece voicing out her opinion about the old man's attitude towards his sister,    I thanked God that she is very much aware of the right things to do specially when a family member is concerned.  She has matured a lot from being so carefree to being so caring.  I do hope that teenagers, nowadays, will also be loving and caring for their families.  As what the movie Pay It Forward shows, it only takes one to start the chain of love until it spreads like fire.  When that happens, this world will be a better place to live in.

:

Crossroads

Life is a journey, I believe

Yet, why is it that when you reach crossroads

You feel mixed emotions

Happy, sad

certain, yet confused

free, but chained out of guilt

focused with only one vision – a goal to achieve

a change of route, a detour, with a definite route to take

amidst crossroads

Yet, as you tread on to the very path you’ve chosen

You feel like turning around

Going back to the old routine

Doing the same things over and over again

For a genuine reason of love

Love for the people you are accustomed to be with

Love for those whom you want to see succeed

Love for them whom you still wish to inspire to carry on

Love for them whom you’d think need more assistance to get through their academic feats

Thus, even if you’re sure of what path to traverse

You still end up baffled

Asking yourself

“Is this the right thing to do?”

“Am I not causing any obstacles in the course of others’ journey?”

“Am I still the same person with a heart and soul?”

Crossroads

Teaching Speaking

Developing Speaking Skills – Module 1

I.                     Components of Communication Process

II.                  Qualities  of  the Good Speaking Voice

A.      Volume

B.      Pitch

C.      Rate/Speed

D.      Quality

E.       Activities

1.       Dyads (with facial expressions and gestures)

2.       Pronunciation Drills

3.       Story telling

III.                Sounds of English

A.      Activities

1.       Pronunciation Drills

2.       Telephone Conversation

3.       Storytelling

IV.                Four Features of Speech

A.      Stressing

B.      Blending

C.      Intonation

D.      Phrasing

E.       Activities

1.       Pronunciation Drills

2.       Dyads

3.       Tongue Twisters

4.       Hypothetical questions (group sharing)

V.                  Types of Speeches

VI.                Culminating Activity

Speech Delivery

(2 speeches – impromptu and extemporaneous)

Components  of Communication Process

Communication is the process of exchanging ideas and feelings. Using the more technical definition of communication, it is the process in which the source (speaker) sends a message to the receiver (listener) through a particular channel either  verbal or non-verbal language  or through electronic devices such as cell phone, telephone, radio and television.

For communication to take place, all the 6 elements should be present.  These include the source (speaker), the receiver (listener), message (content), channel (medium), feedback and situation.  

The source  refers to the origin of the message. The receiver or listener receives the message which is the content of communication through a channel or the medium by which the message is transmitted either verbal or non-verbal or any use of electronic devices such as cell phone, telephone, radio, and television  among others.  To make sure the message has been received properly, feedback from both parties is necessary.  Feedback may be verbal or non-verbal.  For instance, in non-verbal feedback, a simple nod shows  that the message has been understood clearly while a head shake shows that the speaker has not been successful in imparting the message.  Verbal  feedback, on the other hand, refers to the listener’s reactions or comments which he says directly to the speaker.  If a person, for example, has not clearly understood the message, he may say, “Mr. Speaker, please elaborate some more, I can’t figure out what you are talking about.”  Or,  in a related situation, the listener may say, “Pardon me sir, but can you please repeat your explanation because I was not able to catch up.”  Finally, situation refers to the context or  event by which the communication takes place.  Let’s take a town fiesta as a communication situation in which two old friends meet at the plaza where the band is performing  exhibition along with the other guest musicians.   These two friends exchange  stories about each other’s experiences.   However, during the course of their conversation since the whole town is in festivity, many people are in the streets shouting, jeering,  laughing and applauding the performers, chances are there may be times that they won’t be able to understand each other.  This is so because of the interference of noise which disrupts the flow of  communication.

To teach these communication components better to young learners, this activity is recommended:

Dyads:

  Work in pairs:  Based on the lecture about the process or communication, choose only one  to act out from the communication situations  given below:

a.       Dialogue between an OFW father and his son who have never met each other for a year

b.      Dialogue between two old friends who have never seen each other for a  year

c.       A conversation between two sisters who are planning a surprise party for their mother who is celebrating her 50^th birthday

d.      A conversation between a mother and child  by which the latter  is excitedly telling his mother that he is graduating with honors

e.      A conversation between two friends who are working on their assignment in English subject

Qualities of the Good Speaking Voice

Voice is the most important factor  in making you communicate well.  It is what will define your success as a speaker in conveying your message to your listeners.

Your speaking voice can be improved, you only need to know how?  This module on the qualities of the good speaking voice is a big help.

Here are the Four Qualities of  the Speaking Voice:

Volume is the loudness or softness of your voice.

Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of your voice. There are four levels of pitch:  low, normal, high and very high.

   Four levels of Pitch:

1.       Low   - is used to signal the end of an utterance.  In short, low pitch is used to end every sentence.

                                                                3

Example      She is doing  her       project.

                        2                                           1

2.       Normal  - is used to begin an utterance.  Every time you start to talk, you use normal pitch.                                                                                          3

         

              ­Dennis will  have to review for their long    quiz.

                     2                                                                                         1

                                                                                               

3.       High -  is used to denote a stressed  syllable in  a word; it is also used to emphasize a word in a phrase or a sentence.

               

2         3          1

Is he coming?

 

4.       Very high -  is used to express excitement, fear, or any other strong feeling.

    4                         4

Yippee!   We won!

2                   2

   

Rate is the speed of your delivery; that is, it is how quickly or slowly you speak.

Quality - is that component of speech which gives the primary distinction to a given speaker's voice when pitch and loudness are excluded. It involves both phonatory and resonatory characteristics. Some of the descriptions of voice quality are harshness, breathiness and nasality.

        In order  to be an effective communicator, you must vary your volume, pitch, and rate.  Speaking in loud volume, high pitch and fast pace all throughout will irritate your listeners.  Hence,  speech variety is the key to becoming an effective speaker/communicator.  What does it mean by speech variety?  Speech variety requires that you speak using different tones  by adjusting the volume, pitch and rate to the meaning you wish to communicate with your listeners.  For  instance, you are convincing your listeners to hear mass every Sunday not because it is our obligation but because it is our way of thanking God for all His blessings for us.  Definitely, you have to speak with conviction, with confidence, so your voice should be loud and a bit high pitch.  However, if you are sharing a sad experience in the past which made you feel God’s love, then the tone of your voice should be a bit low and your pacing moderate, not so fast and not so slow.  Hence,  the tone of your voice also reflects your emotions.

Exercise 1. Consider saying each of the sentences below depicting the emotions indicated in parentheses.    Make use of pitch, volume and rate effectively.

1.       I’m happy you’re here.  (happy)

2.       I’m happy you’re here.  (excited)

3.       I  saw a  red ball of fire.  (afraid)

4.       I saw a red ball of fire.  (sad)

5.       I saw a red ball of fire.  (uncertain)

6.       I saw a red ball of fire.  (angry)

Exercise 2.  Dialogue

                Read and act out the dialogue below  considering the lesson on qualities of the good speaking voice.

 Ella:  Excuse me. Is there a supermarket near here?

Police: Yes. There's one near here.

Ella: How do I get there?

 Police: At the traffic lights, take the first left and go straight on. It's on the left.

Ella: Is it far?

Police: Not really.

         Ella: Thank you.

         Police: Don't mention it.

Exercise 3.  Storytelling

                      Directions:  Read the story below and prepare for a story telling task.  As you  do story telling, please observe the following:

1.       Vary your pitch, volume and rate

2.       Show dynamism or be very energetic  in your story telling

3.       You may change your voice to portray different characters in the story

4.       Reflect  the emotions of the characters as indicated in the story.

   


 Giving Tree
  by: Shel Silverstein, Source Unknown

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow. He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by. The little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree everyday. One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. "Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid, I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them." "Sorry, but I don't have money. But you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad. One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. "Come and play with me" the tree said. "I don't have time to play. I have to work for family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?" "Sorry, but I don't have a house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad. One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. The boy said, "I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" "Use my truck to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree truck to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time. Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I don't have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you." the tree said. "I don't have teeth to bite" the boy replied. "No more truck for you to climb on" "I am too old for that now" the boy said. "I really can't give you anything. The only thing left is my dying roots." the tree said with tears. "I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years." the boy replied. "Good! Old tree roots is the best place to lean on and rest. Come, come sit down with me and rest." The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears. This is a story of everyone. The tree is our parent. When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad. When we grown up, we left them, only came to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could to make you happy. You may think the boy is cruel to the tree but that's how all of us are treating our parents.

Sounds of English

English language consists of vowel  and consonant sounds.

Vowels

[i]                                            [I]                                           [e]                                            [E]                                        [ae]

Beat                                       bit                                           abate                                    bet                                         bat        

Heat                                      hit                                           hate                                       bread                                    hat

Leak                                       lick                                          Kate                                       let                                           lack

Key                                        sit                                           sate                                       set                                          sat

Meet                                     grill                                         mate                                     any                                         man

Seat                                       captain                                 cape                                      second                                 anger

Amoeba                               marriage                              bake                                      spread                                  sack

[i] (schwa)                           (       )                                      [u]                                          [U]                                         (o)

About                                   mother                                 boot                                      pull                                         boat

Lesson                                  love                                       groom                                   book                                      coat

Solution                               cup                                         balloon                                 could                                     hope

[i] (schwa)                           (       )                                      [u]                                          [U]                                         (o)

Towel                                    cut                                          pool                                       sugar                                     phone

Sofa                                       judge                                    music                                    cook                                      chose

[       ]                                      [a]

Bought                                 dark

Caught                                  father

Hawk                                     arm

Pawn                                     farm

Jaw                                        party

Draw                                     sergeant

Thought                               calm

Saw                                        psalm

Consonant Sounds

Breath  - breathe                                             bath – bathe

Choke -  joke                                                     they – day

False    - falls                                                       fission – vision

Speech – spits                                                   she  - see

Edge  - etch                                                        knife – knives

Bat – pat                                                              thought – taught

[f]                                           [p]                                                          [b]                                                          [v]

Father                                   Peter                                                     base                                                      vase

Fat                                          pat                                                         bat                                                         value

Far                                          par                                                  boys                                                             voice

Fellow                                   pillow                                            buys                                                              vice

Fry                                          pray                                              boat                                                                vote

Partial List of  Words Filipino Speakers often find difficult to pronounce  correctly.

Mum – mom  - ma’am                                   hut-hot-hat

Cup-cop-cap                                                      adopt –adapt – adept

Blond –bland  - blend                                     live – leave

Grin – green                                                       it-eat – eight

Sow – saw                                                           loan – lawn

No – gnaw                                                          slow – slaw (coleslaw)

Thought-taught                                                                low –law

Meat –met – mate                                          speech –spits

Called –cold                                                        cut-cat –cot

Exercise 1: Telephone Conversation

 Reenact a telephone conversation below  paying particular attention to correct pronunciation and  speech variety.

Karla:   Hello, Good morning, may I speak with Cindy?

Cindy’s Mom:   Oh, I’m sorry Cindy has not yet arrived from Bicol. May I know who is calling?

Karla:  Ma’am, it’s Karla, Cindy’s classmate.

Cindy’s Mom:  Would you like to leave a message.   Cindy is arriving this afternoon.

Karla:   Yes, Ma’am.  Kindly tell Cindy that I will be calling up again tomorrow morning to follow up on our group project.

Cindy’s Mom:  Okay.  I will tell her.  Any thing else?

Karla:  Nothing more Ma’am.  Thank you so much.

Cindy’s Mom:   You’re welcome.

Karla:   Bye Ma’am!

Cindy’s Mom:  Bye!

Exercise 2.   Storytelling

Think about a horrible, sad, or humorous experience you have had before.   Share that story  in English by observing correct pronunciation and speech variety.

               

Features of Speech

1. Stressing
2. Blending
3. Phrasing
4. Intonation

A.      Stressing  

The dictionary defines stress as the relative force or prominence given to a syllable or word.  A stressed syllable is given longer duration, a louder volume, and a higher pitch.

1.        Most nouns with two syllables are stressed on the first syllable.

Apple                            paper                    wrapper

Object                          kingdom              fairy

Matter                          lemon                   godly

Tinsel                            tiresome             city

Window       candy                  doctor

2.       Words in which the second syllables are  stressed.

Canteen                       prepare

Object                          dictate

Present                        assist

Grenade                      pretend

Galore                          presume

3.       In words with suffixes like –sion, -tion, - ic, - ity, the strong stress is on the syllable before the suffixes.

Actor                     activity                  admire                  admiration

Economy             economic            dynamic               dynamism

Mechanics          mechanical         inventor               invention

4.       In  compound nouns, the stress or accent is on the first content word.

Toy car                                  bus station                          dog house

Pencil case                          book shelf                           medicine cabinet

Door knob                           classroom                            bookstore

Blackboard                          class record                        train station

Board marker                    hometown                         camp site

Keyboard                            tool kit                                  letter head

   

Phrases:

5.       In phrases, the stress is on the content words

Under the bed                                  for  my mother

Into the cave                                     beside the Coffee shop

Inside the hospital                           across the street

From above                                        outside the campus       

Behind the tree                                                near the bridge

Sentences

6.       Normally in sentences, the strong stress is on the last content word.

 Read each of the following sentences by emphasizing the last content words.

1.       She is coming to see you.

2.       Where are you going?

3.       When will you leave for Macau?

4.       He is a good man.

5.       My parents will treat me to Jollibee.

6.       My sister is kind and thoughtful.

7.       I love my friends.

8.       God loves us.

9.       I help my younger sister do the household chores every day.

10.   I love to eat chocolates.

B.      Blending

Blending is the process of joining the final sound of a word with the initial sound of the next word within a thought group or unit.

To act out                    a TV show                           a shower room

To be loved                                a garbage can                  move out of the room

Read the following sentences by blending the sounds of words within thought groups.

1.        How are you?

2.       How much do you need?

3.       Does she know him?

4.        Good morning, everyone, let’s  pray “Our Father.”

5.        Our God is a  loving God.

6.       Japan was hit by an 8.9 magnitude of earthquake and about 7 meters high of tsunami.

7.       Let’s pray for the victims of earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

8.       We  love our parents  very much.

9.       Take a look at the map of Japan.

10.   The Philippines sent its donations to Japan.

C.      Phrasing

Phrasing  is dividing an utterance into breath units or thought groups.  Read the poem below by paying close attention to where you will pause and stop.  Please be guided by single and double bars.

TREES

By Joyce Kilmer

I think /that I shall never see//
A poem/ lovely as a tree//

A tree/ whose hungry mouth is pressed//
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;//

A tree/ that looks at God all day//
And lifts her leafy arms/ to pray,//

A tree/ that may in summer wear//
A nest of robins in her hair//

Upon whose blossom/ snow has lain; //
Who intimately lives with rain.//

Poems were made/ by fools like me//
But only God/ can make a tree.//

Phrasing in Sentences:

1.       I dream/ to become a doctor/ someday.//

2.      Noynoy Aquino/ is the President of the Philippines.//

3.      Obviously/ she will join the singing contest.//

Read the anecdote below considering the proper phrasing of words.

A little boy was digging for fishing bait in the garden with his father. He uncovered a creature with many legs and proudly held it up for his father to see.

"No, son, he won't work for bait," his father said. "He's not an earthworm."
"He's not?" the little boy said, his eyes wide. "What planet is he from?"

D.      Intonation

Intonation is defined as the manner of speaking a language.  It also refers to the rhythm given to speech by the rise and fall in pitch.

Four levels of Pitch:

5.       Low   - is used to signal the end of an utterance.  In short, low pitch is used to end every sentence.

                                                                3

Example:  I am working on my project.

                        2                                           1

6.       Normal  - is used to begin an utterance.  Every time you start to talk, you use normal pitch.                                                                                          3

          

        I was disappointed with my score in the Math quiz.

                     2                                                                                         1

                                                                                               

7.       High -  is used to denote a stressed  syllable in  a word; it is also used to emphasize a word in a phrase or a sentence.

3            2      1 

   Leadership

                                               

2         3          1

Is he coming?

 

8.       Very high -  is used to express excitement, fear, or any other strong feeling.

    4                         4

Yippee!   We won!

2                   2

        Exercise:  Read the following sentences considering the pitch level indicated.

                                                                                          3

1.       I have a baby sister and she is so cute.

2                                3            1

              2.   How long  have you stayed in Baguio?

                                                2                                3            1

                3.   Have you visited your sick mother?

                                                2                 3

4.        Do you  pray every night?

                      2                                     3

 

5.       When will you tell your Mom the truth?

2                                              1

  Activities:

                Exercise 1.   Tongue Twisters

                                     Read the tongue twisters below by applying the four features of speech learned. 

A

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

                                B

                                I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop.

Where she sits she shines, and where she shines she sits.

C

Betty Botter

Betty Botter had some butter,
"But," she said, "this butter's bitter.
If I bake this bitter butter,
it would make my batter bitter.
But a bit of better butter--
that would make my batter better."

So she bought a bit of butter,
better than her bitter butter,
and she baked it in her batter,
and the batter was not bitter.
So 'twas better Betty Botter
bought a bit of better butter.

Exercise 2.    Work with your partner.(Pair work is optional). Write a simple dialogue on any topic or situation that happens ordinarily every day.  Your script must run  for about  1 to 2 minutes.   Then, present your simple skit or dialogue orally by acting it out either  alone (monologue) or with a partner.  Be sure to apply the four features of speech learned.

Exercise 3.  Choose any of the following questions to answer.  Be very spontaneous in answering the question and consider too the features of speech learned (proper phrasing, intonation, blending and stressing of words)

1. What is your greatest regret?
2.  If a genie granted you 3 wishes, what would you wish for?
3.  What is the one thing you could not live without?

Types of Speeches  According to Purpose:

1.       Informative speech  -

Its purpose is to inform or explain a topic to the audience.  Topics may range from trivial like taking care of dogs to the more serious one like the causes and effects of global warming.

2.       Persuasive Speech

Its aim is to convince the readers to take a stand on a certain issue and do a particular action to address the  issue. 

An example of persuasive speech is during elections when the candidates present their platforms and their qualifications to convince the voters to vote for them.  Another example is on the topic Reproductive Health bill, the priests in their homily, usually deliver persuasive speeches convincing the public that Rh Bill should not be allowed to be passed into law.

3.       Entertainment Speech

It s basic purpose is to amuse the listeners through sharing their humorous experiences or recounting a frightening or dramatic experience.

4.       Inspirational Speech

The goal of the speaker is to uplift the morale or lift up the spirits of the listeners.  Its fundamental purpose is to inspire the audience to perform at their best in a particular task.  An example of this type of speech is the one delivered by a guest speaker during Commencement Exercises.  The topic usually centers on encouraging the graduates to work  hard towards achieving their dreams.

Types of Speeches  According to Delivery:

1.       Read speech – The speaker merely reads the manuscript as he delivers his speech and once in a while glances at his audience. (e.g. State of the Nation Address)

2.       Memorized – the speaker delivers his speech from memory;  the speech has already been written and the speaker  memorized it to make it appear that he’s spontaneous.

3.       Extemporaneous – the speaker is given time to prepare his speech.  He may write an outline or  a speech but the speech is not complete and not well-written.

4.       Impromptu – the speaker is given very little time to prepare for his speech. The topic is given to the speaker seconds before he is asked to speak.

Culminating Activity:

                Deliver an extemporaneous speech on the topic of your choice.  You  will be given 3-4 minutes to deliver your extemporaneous speech. It will be video recorded  so that you yourself can review and critique your own speech performance.

   Study the following tips in Speech Delivery:

1.       Write the outline for your speech or you may also write your speech so that you’ll be confident enough.  But during the speech delivery, you are not supposed to read your speech.  You have to deliver it extemporaneously.

2.       Rehearse or practice delivering your speech many times prior to the grand day of your speech performance.  Remember, practice makes perfect. Moreover, mastery of your topic will make you confident and will prevent you from suffering from mental block.

3.       As you deliver your speech, be very energetic and excited with your topic to make your audience pay attention to your speech.

4.       Use gestures and facial expressions well.

5.       Establish eye contact with your audience; never look up the ceiling nor at the floor.

6.       Dress up appropriately for the occasion.  Wear corporate attire.

7.       Be mindful of the audience’s feedback.  Any noise heard is a sign of boredom, so if you feel that your audience is getting bored,  better do something extraordinary to get back their attention.

8.       Begin and end with a bang, meaning start with a captivating introduction and end with a strong or forceful conclusion.

Sources:

http://www.inspirationalstories.com/8/800.html

http://www.ncsu.edu/project/treesofstrength/poems.htm

http://esl.about.com/od/englishlistening/a/ttwister_betty.htm

http://public-speaking.in/guide/10-tips-to-improve-your-speaking-voice/

Villamarzo, Perla, Relis, Josephine G., Cruz, Estrella E. (2003) Functional Oral Communication. Manila: 

                UST Publishing House.