Communications 11

Self and Society
(Personal Awareness)

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

Prescribed Learning Outcomes

It is expected that students will:

• relate language skills, interests, and attitudes to personal and career plans
• establish goals and plans for language learning based on achievement, needs, and interests

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Self and Society (Personal Awareness) in grade 12 click below.

Suggested Instructional Strategies

• Have students research jobs that interest them, using a variety of career information sources (e.g., school career centres, "Choices," "Bridges,"the Internet). As part of their research, have them find out what language skills are required for the jobs by interviewing people who work in those fields. Ask students to create covering letters and résumés for positions that interest them, using appropriate vocabulary and the correct level of language. Students can then work in pairs to critique each other's letter and résumés and revise their work in response to the suggestions.
• Present students with sample letters of reference. Divide the class into pairs and have students in each pair interview each other and then write letters of reference for their partners. Have a knowledgable person (e.g., an employment counsellor from Employment and Immigration Canada) evaluate the reference letters.
• Discuss with students the six forms of communication (reading, writing, speaking, listening, representing, viewing) and their applications in daily life. Then ask students to prepare an inventory of their language skills, using questions such as:
  • Where and when do you use and encounter these forms of communication now?
  • Where and when might you use them in the future?
  • Which skills do you think are strong points for you?
  • Which do you hope to improve?
  • How might you continue to strengthen your communication skills?
  • What difference do you think better communication skills might make in your life?

  Have students include their self-assessments in a portfolio of their work and review and update them throughout the year.

Suggested Assessment Strategies

• When students write letters of reference for their partners, have them exchange with others and check for:
• correct format
• details of skills and training
• description of student's strengths
• completeness of the information
• appropriate language
• correct English

Students can then make the corrections to their letters.

• When assessing students' portfolios, check that assignments are complete, varied, and attractively presented and that they demonstrate reflection as well as awareness of strengths and weaknesses. Provide students with questions such as the following to use in developing a plan for improvement:
• What are the most important ideas you learned as you built this portfolio?
• What difficulties have you encountered?
• What will you do to help deal with these difficulties?
• What are two ways you could improve your portfolio?
• Provide regular opportunities for students to review their progress in developing language and communication skills. For example, consider setting aside a few minutes at the end of each class for students to record examples of specific skills or knowledge they have acquired or improved.

Recommended Learning Resources

Print Material

• The Communications Handbook
• Reading and Writing for Success

Multimedia

• Breakthroughs