Una Noche Terrorífica

Lucía estaba sola en su casa la cual se encontraba cerca a la montaña debido a que sus padres tuvieron que realizar un repentin viaje. Era ya casi la media noche y se aproximaba una tormenta; cayó un rayo y cortó la electricidad. Lucía se apresuró a encender una vela.


La niña se encontraba triste, asustada y solitaria en medio de las tinieblas, cuando de repente, se encendió el televisor y apareció en la pantalla la imagen de una horrible mujer vestida de blanco y llorando inconsolablemente. Lucía, temblando corrió y se escondió debajo de su cama. Empezó a escuchar unos pasos que se acercaban hacia ella. De repente, la sujetaron de los pies y la arrastraron por toda la casa. La niña gritaba pero nadie la escuchaba.


Inesperadamente, sus padres encendieron la luz y Lucía se despertó sobresaltada pero feliz al darse cuenta que todo había sido una horrible pesadilla. Llorando, abrazó a sus padres y les prometió no volver a ver películas de terror antes de ir a dormir.


http://vocaroo.com/?media=vG6S9GkUZB15E6ag7

Communication Skills Test

What do you think, are you a good communicator?

Communication Skills Test

Here you have some questions and answers with explanations that can help you to reflect on your communication skills, and how can you become in a good communicator!

The following test is taking from http://www.communication-skills-4confidence.com/communication-skills-test-1.html and the questions are designed by Robin Jacobs, Portland Community College, Portland, Oregon.

1. When conversing with others,

A. I usually do most of the talking.
B. I usually let the other person do most of the talking.
C. I try to equalize my participation in the conversation.
Best answer: C. Conversations should be a balanced two-way flow of dialogue.


2. When I first meet someone,
A. I wait for the other person to make the introduction first.
B. I introduce myself with a smile and offer a handshake.
C. When I first meet someone, I hug the person.
Best answer: B. It's good to initiate the introduction and introduce yourself with a handshake and smile.

 3. I usually,
A. "warm-up" new conversations with small talk.
B. I usually avoid small talk and jump into more important matters.
C. I usually avoid starting conversations.
Best answer: A. It's good to initiate conversations with small talk. Topics to warm-up the conversation might include a chat about the weather, news of interest, or impressions about the current activity (if you're at a meeting, staff party, or other gathering).


4. I usually,
A. Make an effort to remember and use peoples' names.
B. Don't pay attention to names as I tend to forget them.
C. Only learn the names of important people.
Best answer: A. It's good to call people by name whenever possible. It makes a good, lasting impression, and it makes the other person feel important and special. To help remember names, try these techniques:
Repeat: After the person tells you his or her name, immediately use it several times in the conversation.
"It's nice to meet you, Bob."
"I agree with you, Bob."
"That was a great joke, Bob!"


5. I_________ use courtesy words and phrases - "Please," "Thank you," "You’re welcome," "I'm sorry."A. Frequently
B. Occasionally
C. Never
Best answer: A. Regular use of these courtesy words and phrases is important to show politeness and build rapport.


6. I tend to
A. to be serious and don't smile often while conversing.
B. Smile all the time while conversing.
C. Smile at appropriate times while conversing.
Best answer: C. Smiling when greeting people and at appropriate times greatly helps build rapport.


7. I ________make eye contact while conversing.
A. Always.
B. Sometimes.
C. Never.
Best answer: A.
Making eye contact is important for building rapport. It gives the impression you're interested and engaged in the conversation, and you have good self-confidence.  Break eye contact frequently - glance down to the side, then quickly make eye contact again. Glancing down to the side is important. If you instead glance to the side (as if looking out the window, for example) or look up, it gives the person the impression you're distracted and not paying attention to what's being said. This quickly breaks down rapport.

8. I often,
A. Stand while talking to a person who is sitting.
B. Sit while talking to a person who is sitting.
C. Lean down while talking to a person who is sitting.
 Best answer: B. Communicating at eye level helps build rapport. So, if the person is sitting and a chair is available, take a seat! There's one exception -If you walk into your supervisor's office or co-worker's office, it's best to ask the supervisor or co-worker if you can sit down first. Even better, wait for an invitation to sit. The person may not have time to talk at that moment.


9. To end a conversation,
A. I often just leave.
B. I begin to look impatient hoping the person will get the hint.
C. I wrap up with a closing statement.
 Best answer: C. It's best to bring the conversation to an end by making a polite closing comment or gesture. Good closing (wrap-up) comments might be:
"I've enjoyed talking with you."
"Let me give you my business card."
"Well, I need to go speak with...."
"Do you know a person I can contact?"


10. If a co-worker has put on weigh
A. I say nothing about it.
B. I tell the person that he or she has changed in appearance.
C. I honestly tell the person that he or she looks fat.
Best answer: A. It's best to say nothing. Never say anything that might hurt or offend the person. It's called being tactful. It's always best to give compliments only, and only say things that will make the person feel good.
"I like your dress."
"That's a nice shirt."


11. When I'm listening to the speaker
A. I often cross my arms over my chest.
B. I often lean back and turn my body away from the speaker.
C. I often lean slightly forward and face my body toward the speaker.
Best answer: C. Leaning slightly forward and facing the speaker shows you're interested, and it helps build rapport. Sitting with your arms crossed over your chest gives the message you are defensive. Leaning back with your body or turning your body away from the speaker gives the message that you are bored, disinterested, or feel in charge. Such body language breaks down rapport.




12. While listening,
A. I tend to be distracted by things going on around me.
B. I listen for meaning and ask questions.
C. I watch the person speak, but I don't "hear" a word.
Best answer: B. If you're a good listener, you keep mentally busy searching for meaning in the message, and you ask questions. This mental "search for meaning" helps keep you focused, attentive, and engaged. If you get easily distracted, try taking notes if the setting is appropriate.
You hear people ask - "I'm sorry, what did you say?" or make the comment - "I have a lot on my mind right now. Could you repeat what you said?" If it's a frequent problem.


13. When someone talks about an unfortunate or sad experience
A. I don't comment about it.
B. I try to change the subject.
C., I try to relate to the person's feelings and show sensitivity to his or her misfortune.
 Best answer: C. Showing empathy (sensitivity) to another person's feelings helps build rapport. It's called "reaching out to people." Empathy can be shown by making comments, such as:
"That must have been a scary (or upsetting) experience for you."
"I felt the same way when that happened to me."
"I know (understand) how you feel."
"I can imagine how you feel."
"I would feel that way too in your situation."


 14. When I have a negative opinion or comment
A. I just say it.
B. I lead in with a positive comment first.
C. I say nothing.
Best answer: B. It's best to say something positive first, and then express a negative opinion or comment in a tactful way. 


15. When I disagree with a person,
 A. I listen first, ask questions for clarification, then disagree non-judgmentally.
 B. I quickly point out the person is wrong and why.
 C. When I disagree with a person, I say little or nothing.
Best answer: A. It's fine to disagree, but it's important to disagree agreeably.
This means you should:
1) show respect for the other person's ideas,
2) listen attentively until the person is done,
3) ask questions if needed,
4) disagree non-judgmentally, and, if possible,
5) offer an alternative solution.

Recommendation for verbal communication

Following you have helpful recommendations for verbal communication for becoming a good communicator!


1. Be appropriate: Use the best language according to the context taking into account the receptor, environment, roles, status, culture...


2. Be clear: To reduce misunderstandings, don`t be ambiguous, be concrete.

3. Read to get more vocabulary: To enrich your vocabulary learn synonymous, antonymous for don`t be redundant.



4. Use descriptions and examples: Since many words have more than one meaning, you may use examples and descriptions to make your point clear.


5. Good pronunciation: To avoid misunderstandings.

6. Listen carefuly: To understand the other person and give an appropriate feedback.

7. Ask questions: To listen for meaning and ask questions.


8. Use courtesy words: To show politeness and made to feel the other person important.


9. Show interested in the conversation: To be focus in the message and in the sender. Keep the receptor amused.

10. Express with good grammar: Because the position of the word in a sentence can change the meaning of a sentence.


Communication is a daily process and we use it for many needs and purposes (Survival, cooperation, personal needs, relationships, persuasion, power, social needs, information, making sense of the world, self-expressions). Therefore, we have the necesity to become a good communicator.