UNIT 1 – COMMUNICATION SKILLS- CLASS 9 AI

🧩 1. Introduction to Communication

Communication is the basic need of all living beings. Animals, birds, insects, and humans all communicate to survive.
Humans have developed many languages throughout history so that they can share ideas and feelings with others.

What is Communication?

Communication means giving and receiving information.
Whenever two or more people exchange information—by speaking, writing, gestures, or even silence—they are communicating.

🎯 2. Why Should We Learn Communication Skills?

Communication skills are important because:

  • They help us build personal and professional relationships.
  • They help us lead a happy and successful life.
  • They help us express ideas clearly and avoid misunderstandings.

Different professions need different communication styles:

  • A doctor speaks gently.
  • An army instructor speaks strictly.
  • A teacher balances strictness and politeness.
  • A diplomat chooses words carefully.
  • A salesperson speaks in a convincing way.

🔄 3. Process of Communication (Communication Cycle)

The communication process has seven important elements:

1. Sender

The person who begins the communication.

2. Message

The information, idea, or content the sender wants to communicate.

3. Encoding

Converting the idea into understandable words, gestures, symbols, etc.
A good encoded message is:
✔ clear
✔ complete
✔ correct

Example:

  • “Send the report ASAP!” → sounds rude
  • “Could you send the report ASAP? It’s required urgently.” → polite and clear

4. Communication Channel (Medium)

How the message travels from sender to receiver.

Examples (Page 5):

  • Oral (face-to-face)
  • Written (letters, notes)
  • Technology-based (phone, email, video conferencing)

5. Receiver

The person who receives the message.

6. Decoding

Understanding the message.
Depends on:
✔ listening skills
✔ attention
✔ clarity of message

7. Feedback

Receiver’s response.
Only when feedback is correct, communication becomes successful.

✨ 4. Effective Communication

Effective communication means expressing ideas in a way that others understand correctly.
It helps in:

  • making decisions
  • solving problems
  • developing good relationships
  • achieving goals

Factors That Ensure Effective Communication

  1. Mutually accepted communication code – the way we speak, language, environment.
  2. Well-encoded message – clear, complete, correct.
  3. Careful decoding – good listening and understanding.
  4. Appropriate feedback – polite and timely response.

Characteristics of Effective Communication (Page 7)

  • Clear in content and purpose
  • Complete with minimum need for questions
  • Based on facts
  • Concise (short and meaningful)
  • Builds relationships and goodwill
  • Helps achieve desired results
  • Creates responsibility and accountability

🛑 5. Barriers to Communication

Barriers disturb or block communication.

1. Environmental Barriers

  • Too hot/too cold room
  • Poor lighting
  • Bad seating
  • Weak internet
  • Defective communication equipment

2. Situational Barriers

  • Noise
  • Distractions
  • Distance
  • Unexpected events

3. Barriers to Effective Listening

  • Jumping to conclusions
  • Wandering mind
  • Negative emotions
  • Lack of patience
  • Dislike for communicator

4. Personality-Based Barriers

  • Age differences
  • Attitude problems
  • Cultural & language differences
  • Health issues
  • Personal grudges or hidden agendas

🗣️ 6. Methods of Communication

According to Page 9, communication is mainly of three types:
✔ Verbal
✔ Non-verbal
✔ Audio-Visual

🗣️ A. Verbal Communication

Uses words and language.

➤ 1. Oral Communication

Face-to-face talking.
Successful when:

  • Language proficiency is good
  • Proper accent & clarity
  • Suitable tone & volume
  • Good control over emotions
  • Duration is suitable (not too long)

Advantages

  • Quick
  • Saves time
  • Immediate feedback
  • Builds relationships
  • Helpful for teamwork

Disadvantages

  • No legal value
  • No record
  • Can be misunderstood
  • Not suitable for long messages

✍️ B. Written Communication

Includes letters, reports, notices, emails, SMS, chat messages, etc.

Advantages

  • Can be revised before sending
  • Has legal value
  • Stored for future reference
  • Suitable for long messages
  • Shows professionalism and goodwill

Disadvantages

  • Time-consuming
  • Lacks emotion
  • Can be misinterpreted
  • Needs literacy and writing skills

🧍‍♂️ C. Non-Verbal Communication (Body Language)

Our body communicates silently.

Includes:

  • Facial expressions
  • Tone of voice
  • Gestures
  • Posture
  • Eye contact
  • Touch
  • Appearance

Advantages

  • Supports spoken and visual communication
  • Sometimes replaces words (e.g., thumbs-up)

Disadvantages

  • Can give wrong signals
  • Difficult to control
  • Happens too fast
  • Varies across cultures

🎥 D. Audio-Visual Communication

Uses technology + senses of sight and hearing.
Examples:

  • Phone calls
  • Video calls
  • Presentations
  • Recorded videos

Advantages

  • Saves travel cost
  • Easy to explain complex ideas
  • Reusable and sharable
  • Reaches large audiences
  • Helpful for illiterate or disabled people

Disadvantages

  • High cost
  • Equipment may fail
  • Needs training
  • Depends on internet and electricity

🎭 7. Communication Perspectives

Our perspective is how we see and interpret messages.

Factors Affecting Perspective

1. Visual Perspective

We judge based on looks, clothing, status, profession, physical ability.

2. Language Perspective

Poor vocabulary or wrong word choice leads to misunderstanding.

3. Past Experiences

Good or bad experiences change how we interpret messages.

4. Attitude

Positive attitude → effective communication
Negative attitude → misunderstanding

5. Prejudice

Biased opinions due to gender, religion, status, etc.

6. Values & Beliefs

Moral values shape interpretations.

7. Emotions & Feelings

Mood affects our understanding.

8. Environment & Surroundings

We speak differently in school, home, market, or meeting.

✍️ 8. Basic Writing Skills

Effective writing requires:
✔ Grammar
✔ Vocabulary
✔ Simple sentences
✔ Expressing ideas clearly
✔ Proper beginning and conclusion

🧩 9. Basic English Grammar (From Page 12–14)

A. Phrases and Sentences

A phrase does not have complete meaning.
A sentence has complete meaning.
Examples:

  • Phrase: a red bicycle
  • Sentence: Lata is riding a red bicycle.

B. Types of Phrases

  1. Noun phrase – The child with his toy car
  2. Verb phrase – is eating
  3. Adjective phrase – this red hat
  4. Adverbial phrase – very quietly
  5. Prepositional phrase – under the hat

C. Parts of Speech (8 Types)

  • Noun
  • Pronoun
  • Verb
  • Adjective
  • Adverb
  • Preposition
  • Conjunction
  • Interjection

D. Articles (a / an / the)

  • a/an – used with singular, non-specific nouns
  • a before consonant sound
  • an before vowel sound
  • the – used before specific or known nouns

✍️ 10. Paragraph Writing

A paragraph must include:

  1. Topic sentence
  2. Explanation/Details
  3. Conclusion

Rules:

  • Stay on one topic
  • Keep sentences in logical order
  • Avoid repeating
  • Keep it short and meaningful