Chris: Explaining spoon-making

There are lots of interesting features of Chris’ explanations. The following is a list of some possible ideas - you may have thought of some additional features too.

You may wish to compare your observations and thoughts to the feedback below. This feedback is based on our observations and thoughts, and is not a ‘correct’ answer. Your own observations are very important and will reflect your own learning and experiences.

A. Overall coherency

• Chris’ explanation is coherent and easy to follow. He sequences his information well, allowing the listener to follow his explanation and gain a fair understanding of the process of spoon-making.

• Chris uses phrases such as “to start off with” or “gradually end up” to sequence his explanation.

B. Sentences used in the explanation

• This is a strength of Chris’ communication skills. Most of Chris’ sentences are complex and include subordinate clauses, such as “so that”, “because”, or “about what’s going on”, adding to the content and complexity of his language.

C. The words that are used

• Again, this is a strength here. Chris uses technical vocabulary such as “forging” and “assay office”. He also is able to explain what words mean when asked.

D. Body language and other non-verbal characteristics

• Chris makes eye contact with the interviewer during his explanation, but eye contact is a bit fleeting. He looks down a lot, and sometimes focuses on the spoon which he has brought with him, possibly due to being recorded!