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Level 2 - Being A Skilful Speaker and Listener

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Level 2 - Being A Skilful Speaker and Listener

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Level 1 - Being A Skilful Speaker and Listener

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Level 1 - Being A Skilful Speaker and Listener

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If English is not your first language, you may find this Padlet useful.

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During a group discussion it's important to use and speak in a clear and fluent way.

It might be useful to prepare some possible sentence starters to use whilst contributing to the discussion, or when responding to questions that you might be asked.

Here is a list of possible sentence starters for your discussion:

Another perspective is...

On the other hand...

I fully believe that...

It has been suggested that... however...

This particular piece of evidence implies that...

It has been put forward that... but I believe...

Having listened to all the points that have been made, I still feel that...

Although many people have suggested that...

Firstly, it should be noted that...

Despite listening to some very convincing arguments, I still believe that...

Finally, I would like to point out that...

You must have confidence in your own opinion. Do not be afraid to say what you think, just make sure that you do it in a clear and logical way.

Use Standard English throughout the discussion.

Ask open-ended questions.

Give your opinion in an organised manner, providing evidence for your suggestions.

Listen carefully to the opinions of others.

Comment on what other people say in an appropriate manner.

Try to prepare a few sentence starters to help structure your response.

If the conversation falters, try to move it forward by introducing new points or by asking appropriate questions.

Watch and listen to this group discussion on voting. Notice how everybody takes their turn in a calm and orderly manner.

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Sentence starters - Responding and interacting - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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During a group discussion it's important to use and speak in a clear and fluent way. It might be useful to prepare some possible sentence starters to use whilst contributing to the discussion, or when responding to questions that you might be asked. Here is a list of possible sentence starters for your discussion: Another perspective is...

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There are two different types of questions that can be asked. These are:

Open-ended questions

Open-ended questions prompt your listener to answer in a much more detailed way. They cannot give a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, but must be prepared to provide plenty of detail and give reasons for why they believe their opinion is the correct one.

Closed questions

Closed questions are much simpler and general require a one-word response such as 'yes' or 'no'. Closed questions can be useful; sometimes a closed question can successfully force someone to commit to their opinion. For example:

Journalist: Do you think it was the right decision to sell your star footballer at this point in the season?

Football Manager: These are difficult decisions and the team remains strong going into the next match.

Here the manager has avoided directly answering, yes or no. You could use this technique yourself in a discussion , to avoid answering a closed question directly.

Here are some examples of other closed questions:

Do you think capital punishment should be abolished?

Do you think there is too much crime in London?

Do you think graffiti is wrong?

If you had a choice, would you wear school uniform?

Here are examples of how you could ask the same questions in a more way that would require more detailed responses:

Why do you think capital punishment should be abolished?

A recent newspaper report claimed that crime in London is on the rise. Why do you think this might be the case?

Some people claim that graffiti is a legitimate form of street art. Do you agree with this and can you give your reasons why/why not?

Why do you think we pupils should be given a choice about school uniform?

If you ask open-ended questions, you will be given more information to comment on. At the same time, if you are asked a question you must give as much detail as you can in your answer.

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Questions - Responding and interacting - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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There are two different types of questions that can be asked. These are: Open-ended questions prompt your listener to answer in a much more detailed way. They cannot give a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, but must be prepared to provide plenty of detail and give reasons for why they believe their opinion is the correct one.

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Being a good listener is not just about being quiet when someone is speaking. Listening skills are about actively listening to what other members of the group have to say, and then responding to the points they have made. It is perfectly acceptable to either agree or disagree with what another member of the group has said as long as you do it in the right way.

Some points to remember

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with what someone has said, it is important that you wait until they have finished speaking before you begin talking.

Remember not to other people's opinions. You can disagree with them without trying to suggest that your opinion is the only one that counts. Some examples of appropriate things to say are:

I agree with the point your making, and I'd like to add...

That is an interesting point, however I feel that...

I can see why you believe that, but I feel...

Although that is a very valid opinion, I feel that...

On the other hand, it is also possible to believe that...

Sentence starters such as these will help you to put your point across in a convincing but polite manner.

It's important to show you are an active listener. Remember to try and move the conversation forward, particularly if the discussion is beginning to falter or if the same comments are being repeated several times. See if you can pick up on the things people say, respond to them appropriately and help move the discussion forward.

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Listening skills and responding to others - Responding and interacting - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Being a good listener is not just about being quiet when someone is speaking. Listening skills are about actively listening to what other members of the group have to say, and then responding to the points they have made.

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Responding and Interacting - Discussion Skills

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Responding and Interacting - Discussion Skills

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A group discussion is a valuable opportunity to share ideas and express your opinion with other members of your class. For a group discussion to be useful, it's important to listen carefully to others and respond to their opinions.

Discussion skills - preparing to discuss

Having a discussion with a group of classmates in a more formal setting is different from the ordinary type of conversations you probably have with your friends on a daily basis. For example, when you talk with a group of friends there are probably times when you all talk at once, or disagree with one another without properly listening to what the other person has to say.

The following lists; 'Things to do' and 'Things not to do' should help you to approach your discussion in the most productive way possible.

Do speak clearly and with expression. Have confidence in your ideas.

Do listen carefully to the opinion of others.

Do show you have listened to the opinion of others by commenting on what they have said.

Avoid interrupting someone else when they are giving their opinion.

Try not to talk over the top of anyone else. Wait until they have finished speaking before you begin to talk.

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Group discussion - Responding and interacting - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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A group discussion is a valuable opportunity to share ideas and express your opinion with other members of your class. For a group discussion to be useful, it's important to listen carefully to others and respond to their opinions.

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Pitch and volume - Voice - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Learn and revise about voice with this BBC Bitesize GCSE English Language Edexcel guide.

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Your tone of voice, like your body language, can affect the meaning of the words you say. In successful communication, your tone of voice must match your message.

In a presentation, discussion or conversation you can change your tone at different stages to help keep your audience's interest. A speech delivered in the same tone throughout (ie a monotone) will be boring as it seems to lack the necessary emotion and conviction.

Varying your tone will make your talk more engaging and convincing. Listen to Benedick's speech from Act 2 Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing . This isn't a natural conversation, but notice how the actor creates realism by varying his tone to show the character's surprise and increasing enthusiasm for the idea that Beatrice just might actually love him.

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Tone - Voice - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Your tone of voice, like your body language, can affect the meaning of the words you say. In successful communication, your tone of voice must match your message. In a presentation, discussion or conversation you can change your tone at different stages to help keep your audience's interest.

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The meaning of your words is affected by how you choose to use your voice. For example, you might whisper if you want to say something that only one person should hear, shout loudly if you're trying to get someone's attention. You might use a tone with a friend and a polite tone with someone you respect. You speak slowly in some situations and quickly in others.

When using your voice you can change your:

Think about your listener and aim to keep them interested by varying your voice, avoiding rambling or speaking in a monotone. Speak a little more loudly and slowly to emphasise a point or draw your listeners in with a whisper.

You can use your voice to:

In this video, Simon Armitage explores the importance of how people use their voices:

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Controlling your voice - Voice - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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The meaning of your words is affected by how you choose to use your voice. For example, you might whisper if you want to say something that only one person should hear, shout loudly if you're trying to get someone's attention. You might use a tone with a friend and a polite tone with someone you respect.

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Gestures are movements that we make naturally when we speak. Some people use lots of gestures and 'talk with their hands'. Others use more subtle gestures.

Not all gestures are universal and some have different meanings according to your .

Here are some common gestures that you might recognise:

You can often understand a conversation, at least in part, from gestures alone. By watching a television conversation with the sound off you can often still understand what's going on in general. Gestures indicate emotion and that carries a great deal of information.

When you are delivering a presentation or speech think about how you can use gestures and facial expressions to emphasise certain points you want to make. Plan in advance where gestures will be effective and practise your talk as if you are rehearsing for a play.

In this clip notice how the politicians' gestures speak as loudly as their words.

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Gestures - Personal presence - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Gestures are movements that we make naturally when we speak. Some people use lots of gestures and 'talk with their hands'. Others use more subtle gestures. Not all gestures are universal and some have different meanings according to your .

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We give clues about what we are thinking by the way we sit or stand. That doesn't mean that everyone who sits upright is interested or that everyone who slumps is bored. But paying attention to posture can help us communicate a message more clearly.

Posture is usually interpreted at a subconscious level. Here are some examples of posture with some generally accepted meanings:

You can use your own posture to your advantage when you are in a discussion or giving a presentation. Show that you are interested and engaged with a speaker by leaning slightly towards them and tilting your head to one side. Feel the difference yourself, for example, when you fold your arms and sit back in your chair.

To appear more confident when delivering a speech or presentation:

plant your feet firmly on the ground, about hip distance apart

roll your shoulders back

keep your chin up

keep your arms relaxed and by your side, unless you are making specific gestures

Even if you don't feel confident on the inside, this posture will go some way to convincing your audience that you know what you're talking about.

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Posture - Personal presence - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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We give clues about what we are thinking by the way we sit or stand. That doesn't mean that everyone who sits upright is interested or that everyone who slumps is bored. But paying attention to posture can help us communicate a message more clearly. Posture is usually interpreted at a subconscious level.

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Making frequent but not overly intense eye contact when you speak will reassure your listener that you are interested in their response. In everyday conversation we naturally look at the people we talk to. It would seem strange if you were speaking to one person, while looking at somebody else.

It's the same for all face-to-face situations when you use spoken language. You need to look at the people you are speaking to. You shouldn't stare intently though as that is likely to make your listeners uncomfortable.

In one-to-one situations eye contact can be helpful to show that you are focused on a particular aspect of the conversation. It shows that you have something important to say at that moment and also that you care about what the other person is saying.

If you are presenting to a larger audience, you can move your gaze across your listeners as you talk, making only very brief eye contact with individuals, holding for maybe a second or so, before moving on. This will help your listeners to feel included.

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Eye contact - Personal presence - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Making frequent but not overly intense eye contact when you speak will reassure your listener that you are interested in their response. In everyday conversation we naturally look at the people we talk to. It would seem strange if you were speaking to one person, while looking at somebody else.

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Body language - Personal presence - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Communication is not just about the words you say. It is also about how you say those words (eg the tone and volume of your voice) and the way you look, stand, sit and move in relation to your listeners. This is what is meant by body language .

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Individual presentations - Speaking and listening - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Learn and revise about speaking and listening with this BBC Bitesize GCSE English Language Edexcel guide.

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Standard English is formal - it does not include informal language. We use informal language in situations where Standard English is not necessary or might not be appropriate.

For example, we might use informal language like when we are with our friends or family. Your might include slang words and phrases that are particular to your age or social group. For example, think of the following words you might use to describe your sports shoes. Perhaps you would use one of the following:

Most speakers would understand the word 'trainers', but the other words could be considered more informal or slang words.

When using informal language it is also common to use contractions - shortened versions of phrases such as 'gonna' for 'going to', 'innit' for 'isn't it' and 'I ain't' for 'I am not'. These contractions are not appropriate for formal speaking situations, but it would still be acceptable to use contractions like 'I'm' and 'don't'.

Here is an example of Catherine Tate's comedy character Lauren Cooper using informal language to speak to her teacher. Notice how her language seems out of place.

Dialect is the form of language used by a group that live in a particular area. If a speaker is using a dialect, they may use different words, spellings or even order their sentences in different ways. For example, in Newcastle the word 'gadgie' means man.

These non-standard English words and forms are easily understood by certain groups of people, but might be unfamiliar to other groups. Although dialect words can be acceptable in formal English, it's important to think about your audience and when deciding whether to use them or not.

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Standard English - Speaking and listening - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Standard English is formal - it does not include informal language. We use informal language in situations where Standard English is not necessary or might not be appropriate. For example, we might use informal language like when we are with our friends or family.

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Listening To Others and Building On Arguments

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Listening To Others and Building On Arguments

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Listen carefully when other people are speaking. For example, if someone is delivering a speech or making a point in a group discussion or debate, you need to pay close attention to the points they are making.

It can help to take notes as you listen - write a few words or images down to trigger your memory when it's your own turn to talk.

You can show that you have been listening by building on people's arguments . Mention a point someone has made and then add your own experience or ideas. Here are some sentence starters to help you with this:

I agree with your point about.... however...

I'd like to add to what you said...

When you talked about... it made me think...

In addition to your comments about...

Remember, you don't have to agree with everything a speaker says but conversation of any kind is a co-operative activity and it starts to fall down when it becomes confrontational or competitive. The purpose of a discussion is to open up an issue and invite a range of opinions and interpretations. In this case you can challenge a speaker. The following sentence starters should be useful:

I understand what you said about... but I think...

I disagree with your point about...

I don't think what you said about... is valid. I would suggest...

When you said... I wonder whether you had considered...

Listening is as important as speaking, so avoid dominating a discussion, even if you have lots to say, and encourage others to share their views too.

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Listening to others and building on arguments - Speaking and listening - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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Listen carefully when other people are speaking. For example, if someone is delivering a speech or making a point in a group discussion or debate, you need to pay close attention to the points they are making.

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In a discussion, you should aim to interact and respond to what other people are saying . Talk with confidence and let others speak. Remember that listening is as important as speaking.

You can show you are listening by:

making eye contact with the speaker and responding to what they say

using body language to show co-operation and understanding , for example shrugs and nods

A good discussion has a flow to it with people agreeing and disagreeing, giving explanations for their viewpoints. Each person needs to be allowed time to speak and to share their opinion before the next person adds their point.

Things to avoid in a group discussion include:

interruption - except maybe to show agreement, eg "Yes, I see"

cutting people off mid-sentence

talking over other people

breaking off into mini-discussions within a big group

If you find taking part in discussions difficult, try planning your ideas in advance so you know you have something to share. If you don't feel strongly about a topic, build on someone else's point or ask a question to another member of the group.

A useful technique is to use open questions. These are questions that cannot be answered with a single word such as 'yes' or 'no'. Instead the answerer must give more detail. They can lead to a friendly and useful discussion. 'What do you think about the character?' is a more open question than 'Did you like him?' Closed questions like this can be useful sometimes - when summarising a discussion and making sure everyone has had their say, for example. They can also make people commit to an opinion one way or another. But on the whole discussions require open questions - and when you are asked one, you should try to give a full answer.

Make sure everyone has a chance to speak by inviting opinions. Use formal language and stay calm, especially when a topic is important to you.

Preparing to discuss

The topic you discuss will always have different viewpoints. Think about as many points of view on your topic as you can, then aim to cover the most likely in your discussion. Try to cover only the key issues in detail. If you have time, try to do some research beforehand. Facts, statistics and examples can be powerful convincers in a discussion.

When taking part in a group discussion try to use spoken . Think about your voice, eye-contact and body language . You can agree and disagree without turning your discussion into a confrontation. Show that you're listening, and keep the discussion flowing by asking thoughtful questions .

- respect other people's right to their opinions

- help the conversation develop by being co-operative

- listen to both sides of the discussion and respond to each

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Discussion skills - Speaking and listening - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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In a discussion, you should aim to interact and respond to what other people are saying . Talk with confidence and let others speak. Remember that listening is as important as speaking.

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To help you decide on a style of speaking that is suitable for a particular situation or context you should think about:

who you are speaking to

why you are speaking to them

For example, in a conversation with friends you are likely to use a very different style of speaking and listening than you would in a formal presentation to an unfamiliar audience .

Ask yourself the following key questions when preparing for speaking and listening:

Who are your audience?

How old are they?

What matters to them?

What do you want them to do or feel?

Why should they listen to you?

Your answers to these questions should help you focus on how you might best speak to your audience in an interesting and convincing way.

Be clear about your purpose in presentations and discussions. Is your aim:

To persuade your audience to do something, eg to stop dropping litter?

To convince your listeners that your point of view is a fair one to hold?

To entertain your audience?

To share important information?

To give instructions, a report, advice or explanation?

It is a good idea to prepare notes in advance of formal speaking and listening situations and to practise beforehand in front of people.

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Audience and purpose - Speaking and listening - Edexcel - GCSE English Language Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize

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To help you decide on a style of speaking that is suitable for a particular situation or context you should think about: who you are speaking to why you are speaking to them For example, in a conversation with friends you are likely to use a very different style of speaking and listening than you would in a formal presentation to an unfamiliar audience .

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Speaking And Listening Assessment Videos

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Speaking And Listening Assessment Videos