COR 001: Oral Communication

Teachers’ Guide Module #6

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________________________________ Date: ______________

Lesson title: Functions of Communication Materials:

Lesson Objectives: Worksheets
1. I can discuss the functions of communication. References:
2. I can identify strategies used by each speaker in order Flores, Ramona S. Oral Communication in
to convey my ideas effectively. Context, First Edition.
3. I can identify the speaker’s purpose. https://boardofwisdom.com/togo/Quotes/Sh
owQuote?msgid=452588#.XMEimmgzbIU

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
Introduction
Hello and welcome to day 6! Today’s topic is about the different functions of communication. Before you
begin, I want you to read the short story below. After reading, answer the questions that follow. *answers may
vary*

The Blind Boy

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which
said: “I am blind, please help.” There were only a few coins in his hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the
hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so
that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon, the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The
boy recognized his footsteps and asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this
morning? What did you write?”

The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way;

1. Why do you think the first sign was not that effective?
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2. What does the 2nd sign mean?

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 COR 001: Oral Communication
Teachers’ Guide Module #6

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________________________________ Date: ______________

3. Obviously, the second sign was more effective. What makes it more effective?
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4. Do you believe that communication has different functions and can even save lives if done right?
Why yes, or why not?
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B. MAIN LESSON
Content and Skill-Building
Let us now read the texts below. You use the table to write important keywords as you read along the texts.
5 Functions of Meaning Examples
Communication
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Communication is a complex process. People do not just communicate because people love to talk.
Humans communicate for several reasons. These reasons are called the Functions of Communication. Each
function is based on the speaker’s purpose for communicating.
1. Regulation and Control
The speaker’s purpose here is to control others by managing their behaviour. It is being able to use language,
gestures, and emotions to manage individual or group activities.

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 COR 001: Oral Communication
Teachers’ Guide Module #6

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________________________________ Date: ______________

Example:
Making an announcement that the community will start segregating their garbage.
Telling someone to be quiet or encouraging someone to continue discussing the topic.
2. Social Interaction
This is the primary reason why people communicate. This is because people do love to talk and love to talk with
each other. Social interaction allows people to be connected with one another.

Example:
“Let’s be friends”.
“Will you marry me?”
3. Motivation
This refers to using language to express desires, needs, wants, likes and dislikes, inclinations, choices and
aspirations. This is when the speaker’s purpose is to persuade another person to move in to action, or change
his or her opinion, attitude, or behaviour.
Example:
A baby communicates by crying in order to have his/her milk.
A pastor sharing some gospel from the bible.
4. Information
This Function is used when the Speaker wants to make others aware of certain data, concepts, and processes
– knowledge that may be useful to them. Communication as information enables humans to get to know and
understand the world.
Example:
Knowing what HIV is and how to avoid getting it.
Calling customer service and asking why your bill is high.

5. Emotional Expression
Human always need to express their emotions verbally and non-verbally. Emotions are a central part of who we
are. Aside from being expressed through verbal, emotional expression is commonly volunteer to express non
verbally. The Speaker here can appeal to the Listener’s feelings and emotions to encourage him or her to act in
a particular direction and move them in to action.
Example:
Receiving messages that include pictures of devastation brought about by typhoon, the receiver of
the message cannot help but be moved to do something: donate money, clothes, food and water, or
even to help build new houses for the victims.

Skill-building
It’s time to build your skills. In this activity, you are going to pick 3 communication functions of your choice
and apply it in the given situation below. Answer the questions as if you are really being interviewed by an
employer. After giving your response, answer the processing questions. *answers may vary*

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 COR 001: Oral Communication
Teachers’ Guide Module #6

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________________________________ Date: ______________

Situation:
You apply for a summer job. In the interview, your prospective employer asks you 3 questions.
Persuade the interviewer by giving a moving answer.

1. What are your strengths?

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Q: In your answer, what function of communication did you use?
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Q: Why do you think this function is effective to use?
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2. What is your most important achievement?

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Q: In your answer, what function of communication did you use?

________________________________________________________________________________________
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Q: Why do you think this function is effective to use?
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________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why do you think you should be hired?

________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Q: In your answer, what function of communication did you use?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Q: Why do you think this function is effective to use?
________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 COR 001: Oral Communication
Teachers’ Guide Module #6

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________________________________ Date: ______________

Check for Understanding

As you can see, inside the box below are sample sentences. What you’re going to do is to determine what
function of communication is involved. Use the table to organize the phrases/sentences. You can do this!

-Be my group partner -Segregate your garbage -I think I am upset with what
you did
-I dream of a peaceful world -I want to be alone -Hello!
-I have 3 brothers -Never give up
-Did it rain last night? -You are wasting my time!

Regulation and Social Interaction Motivation Information Emotional

Control develops bond, encourages people used for giving and Expression
are commands intimacy, and to move in to action getting information are expressions of
influencing relations love, anger, fear,
behaviors joy, hope, etc.
1. 1. 1. 1. 1.

2. 2. 2. 2. 2.

Check your work by using the key to

C. LESSON WRAP-UP
corrections at the last page.
Summary/Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the functions and process of communication?
Communication ensures the exchange of information and facilitates decision-making procedures. Sender,
encoding process, message, channel, decoding process, receiver, noise, feedback. Channels that have been
developed by the organization to transmit messages related to professional activities.

2. Why communication is so important?

Being able to communicate effectively is perhaps the most important of all life skills. It is what enables
us to pass information to other people, and to understand what is said to us

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION

 COR 001: Oral Communication
Teachers’ Guide Module #6

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________________________________ Date: ______________

Thinking about Learning

We are done! Slowly, but surely, you are now becoming an ideal communicator. In the few sessions to
come, you will learn more. Give yourself a pat on your shoulders. You did well today. Now time for some
wrapping up. Put a check mark beside the learning target if we hit the objectives today.

_____I can discuss the functions of communication.

_____I can identify strategies used by speakers in order to convey my ideas effectively.
_____I can identify the speaker’s purpose.

KEY TO CORRECTIONS
Introduction
1. The first sign simply said that the boy was blind.
2. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind.
3. It made people realize things that prompted them to extend help by giving money.
4. *Answers may vary

Skill Building
*answer may vary*

Check for Understanding

Regulation and Social Interaction Motivation Information Emotional

Control develops bond, encourages people used for giving and Expression
are commands intimacy, and to move in to action getting information are expressions of
influencing relations love, anger, fear,
behaviors joy, hope, etc.
1. Segregate your 1. Be my group 1. I dream of a 1. I have 3 1. I think I am upset
garbage. partner. peaceful world. brothers. with what you did.
2. I want to be 2. Hello! 2. Never give up. 2. Did it rain last 2. You are wasting
alone. night? my time!

This document is the property of PHINMA EDUCATION