Als K To 12 English

# ALS K-12 English: A Comprehensive Guide to Communication Skills

Welcome to our comprehensive course on ALS K-12 English, designed to equip learners with the essential communication skills needed for success in the 21st century. This course is aligned with the DepEd Alternative Learning System (ALS) K-12 Basic Education Curriculum and focuses on Learning Strand 1: Communication Skills (English). Whether you are an out-of-school youth or an adult learner, this course will provide you with a solid foundation in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and viewing, empowering you to communicate effectively in various contexts. [1]

## The Five Macro Skills of Communication

Communication is a multifaceted process that involves five macro skills. This course will help you develop your abilities in each of these areas, enabling you to become a more confident and effective communicator.

1. **Listening:** The ability to understand and interpret spoken language.
2. **Speaking:** The ability to express ideas and feelings clearly and appropriately in spoken language.
3. **Reading:** The ability to understand and interpret written language.
4. **Writing:** The ability to express ideas and feelings clearly and effectively in written language.
5. **Viewing:** The ability to understand and interpret visual media.

## Listening: The Foundation of Communication

Listening is the active process of receiving and responding to spoken (and sometimes unspoken) messages. It is one of the most important skills you can have. How well you listen has a major impact on your job effectiveness, and on the quality of your relationships with others. In this section, we will explore the different types of listening and develop strategies for becoming more active and critical listeners.

### The Listening Process

Listening is not a passive activity. It is a complex process that involves several stages:

1. **Receiving:** The initial stage of the listening process where you hear the sounds and recognize them as words.
2. **Understanding:** The stage where you assign meaning to the words you have heard.
3. **Remembering:** The stage where you store the information you have heard for future use.
4. **Evaluating:** The stage where you critically analyze the information you have heard and make judgments about it.
5. **Responding:** The stage where you provide feedback to the speaker to show that you have been listening.

### Types of Listening

There are many different types of listening, and the type of listening you use will depend on the situation. Here are some of the most common types of listening:

* **Informational Listening:** This is the type of listening you do when you want to learn something. For example, you might use informational listening when you are listening to a lecture or a news report.
* **Critical Listening:** This is the type of listening you do when you want to evaluate and judge what you are hearing. For example, you might use critical listening when you are listening to a political speech or a sales presentation.
* **Therapeutic or Empathetic Listening:** This is the type of listening you do when you want to understand the feelings and emotions of the speaker. For example, you might use empathetic listening when you are talking to a friend who is going through a difficult time.

### Active Listening Strategies

Active listening is a way of listening that involves paying close attention to the speaker, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback. Here are some active listening strategies that you can use to become a more effective listener:

* **Pay attention and avoid distractions:** When you are listening to someone, give them your full attention. Put away your phone, turn off the TV, and make eye contact with the speaker.
* **Show that you are listening through nonverbal cues:** You can show that you are listening by nodding your head, making eye contact, and using facial expressions.
* **Provide feedback by paraphrasing and asking questions:** Paraphrasing is when you restate what the speaker has said in your own words. This shows that you have been listening and that you understand what they are saying. Asking questions can help you to clarify any points that you are unsure of.
* **Defer judgment and avoid interrupting:** It is important to let the speaker finish what they are saying before you respond. Avoid interrupting them or jumping to conclusions.
* **Respond appropriately and respectfully:** Once the speaker has finished, you can respond to what they have said. Be sure to respond in a way that is appropriate to the situation and respectful of the speaker.

## Speaking: Expressing Yourself with Confidence

Speaking is a vital tool for communication, allowing us to share our thoughts, ideas, and feelings with others. This section will delve into the art of effective speaking, providing you with the tools and confidence to express yourself clearly and persuasively in a variety of situations.

### The Speech Communication Process

Speech communication is a dynamic process involving several key components:

* **Speaker:** The person who initiates the communication.
* **Message:** The information, ideas, or feelings that the speaker wants to convey.
* **Channel:** The medium through which the message is transmitted (e.g., air, telephone, internet).
* **Listener:** The person who receives and interprets the message.
* **Feedback:** The listener’s response to the message, which can be verbal or nonverbal.
* **Interference:** Anything that hinders the communication process (e.g., noise, distractions, cultural differences).
* **Situation:** The time and place in which the communication occurs.

### Elements of Effective Speaking

To be an effective speaker, you need to master several key elements:

* **Clarity:** Your message should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your audience may not be familiar with.
* **Audience Awareness:** Tailor your message to your audience. Consider their age, background, knowledge, and interests.
* **Purpose:** Have a clear purpose for your communication. Are you trying to inform, persuade, or entertain your audience?
* **Vocal Variety:** Use a variety of pitch, tone, and volume to make your speaking more engaging and to emphasize key points.
* **Body Language:** Your body language, including your posture, gestures, and facial expressions, should be consistent with your message and should help to convey your meaning.

### Public Speaking

Public speaking is a form of communication in which a speaker addresses a live audience. It is a valuable skill that can help you to succeed in many areas of life, from school and work to your personal relationships. Here are some tips for delivering an effective public speech:

* **Choose a topic that you are passionate about:** Your enthusiasm will be contagious and will help to engage your audience.
* **Organize your speech in a logical manner:** Your speech should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
* **Practice and rehearse your speech:** The more you practice, the more confident you will become.
* **Make eye contact with your audience:** This will help you to connect with them and to gauge their reaction to your message.
* **Use visuals to enhance your message:** Visuals, such as slides, charts, and graphs, can help to make your speech more interesting and memorable.
* **Be prepared for questions:** At the end of your speech, be prepared to answer questions from the audience.

## Reading: Unlocking the World of Information

Reading is a fundamental skill that is essential for success in all areas of life. It is the key to unlocking the vast world of information that is available to us in books, articles, websites, and other written materials. This section will help you to develop your reading comprehension skills, so that you can read with greater understanding and enjoyment.

### The Reading Process

Reading is an active process that involves several stages:

1. **Pre-reading:** Before you begin reading, take a few minutes to preview the text. Look at the title, headings, and any pictures or charts. This will give you a general idea of what the text is about and will help you to activate your prior knowledge.
2. **Reading:** As you read, pay attention to the main ideas and supporting details. Ask yourself questions about the text and try to make connections to your own experiences.
3. **Post-reading:** After you have finished reading, take some time to reflect on what you have read. Summarize the main ideas in your own words and think about how the text has changed your understanding of the topic.

### Reading Comprehension Strategies

There are many different strategies that you can use to improve your reading comprehension. Here are a few of the most effective:

* **Activating Prior Knowledge:** Before you begin reading, think about what you already know about the topic. This will help you to make connections to the text and to better understand what you are reading.
* **Making Predictions:** As you read, try to predict what will happen next. This will help you to stay engaged with the text and to think critically about what you are reading.
* **Asking Questions:** As you read, ask yourself questions about the text. This will help you to clarify any points that you are unsure of and to deepen your understanding of the material.
* **Visualizing:** As you read, try to create mental images of what you are reading. This will help you to better understand the text and to remember what you have read.
* **Summarizing:** After you have finished reading, summarize the main ideas in your own words. This will help you to check your understanding of the text and to remember what you have read.

### Critical Reading

Critical reading is the process of analyzing and evaluating a text. It involves going beyond simply understanding what the text says and thinking critically about the author’s purpose, point of view, and use of evidence. Here are some questions that you can ask yourself to help you to read critically:

* **What is the author’s purpose for writing this text?**
* **What is the author’s point of view on the topic?**
* **What evidence does the author use to support their claims?**
* **Is the evidence credible and reliable?**
* **Are there any biases or assumptions in the text?**
* **What are the strengths and weaknesses of the author’s argument?**

## Writing: Sharing Your Ideas with the World

Writing is a powerful tool for communication, allowing you to share your thoughts, ideas, and stories with a wide audience. This section will guide you through the writing process, from brainstorming and planning to drafting and revising, helping you to become a more confident and effective writer.

### The Writing Process

Good writing doesn’t just happen. It is the result of a process that involves several stages:

1. **Prewriting:** This is the brainstorming and planning stage. Before you start writing, take some time to think about your topic, your audience, and your purpose for writing. You can use a variety of prewriting techniques, such as freewriting, brainstorming, and outlining, to help you to generate ideas and to organize your thoughts.
2. **Drafting:** This is the stage where you write the first version of your text. Don’t worry about making it perfect at this stage. Just focus on getting your ideas down on paper.
3. **Revising:** This is the stage where you make changes to improve the content and organization of your writing. You might add, delete, or rearrange ideas to make your writing more clear, concise, and effective.
4. **Editing:** This is the stage where you correct errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You should also check for clarity, conciseness, and style.
5. **Publishing:** This is the final stage of the writing process, where you share your finished piece of writing with others. This could involve submitting it for a grade, publishing it online, or simply sharing it with a friend or family member.

### Types of Writing

There are many different types of writing, each with its own purpose and conventions. Here are some of the most common types of writing that you will encounter:

* **Narrative Writing:** This type of writing tells a story. It can be fictional or non-fictional, and it often includes characters, setting, plot, and conflict.
* **Descriptive Writing:** This type of writing paints a picture with words. It uses sensory details to create a vivid and memorable image in the reader’s mind.
* **Expository Writing:** This type of writing explains a topic or provides information. It is often used in textbooks, articles, and reports.
* **Persuasive Writing:** This type of writing tries to convince the reader to agree with a particular point of view. It often uses evidence, logic, and emotional appeals to make its case.

## Viewing: Understanding the Visual World

In our increasingly visual world, it is more important than ever to be able to understand and interpret visual media. This section will help you to develop your visual literacy skills, so that you can become a more critical and informed consumer of visual media.

### Types of Visual Media

Visual media is all around us, in a variety of forms. Here are some of the most common types of visual media that you will encounter:

* **Images:** Photographs, illustrations, paintings, and other still images.
* **Videos:** Movies, television shows, online videos, and other moving images.
* **Graphs and Charts:** Visual representations of data.
* **Advertisements:** Visual messages that are designed to sell a product or service.

### Critical Viewing Skills

Critical viewing is the process of analyzing and evaluating visual media. It involves going beyond simply looking at the image and thinking critically about the creator’s purpose, point of view, and use of visual techniques. Here are some questions that you can ask yourself to help you to view critically:

* **What is the purpose of this visual message?**
* **Who is the intended audience?**
* **What is the creator’s point of view?**
* **What visual techniques are used to create the message?**
* **How do these techniques affect the meaning of the message?**
* **Is the message credible and reliable?**
* **Are there any biases or stereotypes in the message?**

By developing your critical viewing skills, you will be able to better understand the visual messages that you encounter every day and to make more informed decisions about the products you buy, the candidates you vote for, and the way you see the world.

## Grammar and Vocabulary

A strong foundation in grammar and vocabulary is essential for effective communication. This section will cover the fundamental rules of English grammar and provide strategies for expanding your vocabulary.

### Parts of Speech

* **Nouns:** Words that represent people, places, things, or ideas.
* **Verbs:** Words that express actions or states of being.
* **Adjectives:** Words that describe nouns.
* **Adverbs:** Words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
* **Pronouns:** Words that take the place of nouns.
* **Prepositions:** Words that show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence.
* **Conjunctions:** Words that connect words, phrases, or clauses.
* **Interjections:** Words that express strong emotions.

### Sentence Structure

* **Simple Sentences:** Sentences with one independent clause.
* **Compound Sentences:** Sentences with two or more independent clauses.
* **Complex Sentences:** Sentences with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
* **Compound-Complex Sentences:** Sentences with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

### Vocabulary Building

* **Reading widely:** The more you read, the more words you will encounter.
* **Using a dictionary and thesaurus:** Look up unfamiliar words and find synonyms to expand your vocabulary.
* **Learning word roots, prefixes, and suffixes:** Understanding the building blocks of words can help you decipher the meaning of new words.
* **Using flashcards and other memory aids:** Practice and repetition are key to memorizing new words.

## Media and Information Literacy

In today’s digital age, it is more important than ever to be media and information literate. This section will help you develop the skills you need to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms.

### Key Concepts

* **Media Literacy:** The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media.
* **Information Literacy:** The ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively.
* **Digital Literacy:** The ability to use digital technology, communication tools, and networks to locate, evaluate, use, and create information.

### Fake News and Disinformation

We will learn how to identify and avoid fake news and disinformation, and how to become more critical consumers of information.

## Workplace Communication

Effective communication is essential for success in the workplace. This section will cover the basics of professional communication, including writing emails, participating in meetings, and giving presentations.

### Professional Emails

* Use a clear and concise subject line.
* Use a professional greeting and closing.
* Be mindful of your tone and language.
* Proofread your email before sending.

### Effective Meetings

* Come prepared to discuss the agenda items.
* Participate actively and respectfully.
* Stay on topic and be mindful of the time.
* Follow up on any action items.

### Engaging Presentations

* Know your audience and purpose.
* Organize your content in a logical manner.
* Use visuals to enhance your message.
* Practice your presentation and be prepared for questions.

## Intercultural Communication

In our increasingly globalized world, it is essential to be able to communicate effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds. This section will introduce the basics of intercultural communication and provide strategies for communicating respectfully and effectively across cultures.

### Understanding Culture

Culture is the shared values, beliefs, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that characterize a group or society. We will explore the different dimensions of culture, such as individualism vs. collectivism, high-context vs. low-context communication, and power distance.

### Strategies for Effective Intercultural Communication

* **Be open-minded and respectful of cultural differences.**
* **Avoid stereotypes and generalizations.**
* **Be aware of your own cultural biases.**
* **Learn about the cultural norms and values of the people you are communicating with.**
* **Use clear and simple language.**
* **Be patient and understanding.**

## Assessment and Evaluation

Throughout this course, you will have the opportunity to assess your learning through a variety of activities, including quizzes, assignments, and projects. These assessments will help you to track your progress and identify areas where you need to improve. At the end of the course, you will take a final exam to demonstrate your mastery of the material.

### Quizzes

Quizzes will be given at the end of each section to test your understanding of the key concepts.

### Assignments

Assignments will provide you with the opportunity to apply what you have learned to real-world situations. You will be asked to complete a variety of tasks, such as writing essays, giving presentations, and creating multimedia projects.

### Projects

Projects will allow you to explore a topic in depth and to demonstrate your learning in a creative and meaningful way. You will have the opportunity to work individually or in groups on projects that are relevant to your interests and goals.

### Final Exam

The final exam will be a comprehensive assessment of your learning throughout the course. It will cover all of the material from the five macro skills of communication, as well as grammar and vocabulary, media and information literacy, workplace communication, and intercultural communication.

## Conclusion

This course will provide you with a comprehensive foundation in the five macro skills of communication. By developing your skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and viewing, you will be empowered to communicate effectively in all areas of your life. We encourage you to take an active role in your learning and to practice your communication skills as often as possible.

## References

[1] Department of Education. (2017). *K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum for the Alternative Learning System (ALS-K to 12): Learning Strand 1 Communication Skills (English)*. Retrieved from https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LS-1-Comm-Skills-English.pdf

[2] Department of Education. (n.d.). *About Alternative Learning System*. Retrieved from https://www.deped.gov.ph/k-to-12/inclusive-education/about-alternative-learning-system/

[3] ICT4ALS. (n.d.). *K to 12-aligned ALS modules*. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/view/ict4als/ict-resources-for-als/k-to-12-aligned-als-modules