A、To make sure you turn off your cell phones. B、To show you are an easy-going person. C、To respect people involved in the conver

Moderator:
    Hello, everybody. It is my honour to introduce our respectable speaker for today’s lecture, Dr. Thomas Wood. Dr. Wood has written numerous articles and books on the topic of communication and how to communicate effectively. Welcome, Dr. Wood. Dr. Wood:
    Good morning, everyone. I’m very glad to have a lecture with you. Today, I’d like to talk about how to communicate effectively. Effective communication is an essential component of human relationships, whether in the workplace, at school, among friends, between couples or within a household. Highly functional, successful family groups tend to be those that communicate effectively, while the lack of such communication is frequently found in troubled families, according to a research company. Learning and practicing effective communication techniques is well worth the time and effort, resulting in stronger interpersonal ties and greater familial satisfaction. My tips are as follows:
    Think First, Speak Later. Few people would stand before an audience or class and present a speech without advance preparation. Gathering thoughts, ideas and information are critical for communicating in an organized and effective way. Setting priorities can be helpful, especially when preparing to discuss a complex issue. Furthermore, stepping away from a problem before discussing it allows time to gain objectivity, as well as empathy for the other person or persons involved.
    Be Fully Present. Effective communication is possible only in the present moment. Bringing past conflicts into the current discussion serves only to heighten negative emotions and be bad for a productive conversation. A sharp focus on the topic at hand is essential for clear and effective communication, and it is also helpful to keep outside distractions to a minimum. Text messages, phone calls and emails can all wait until a later time, and worries about work, school or other issues can be put on hold as well.
    Use Nonverbal Cues. Nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, body language and hand gestures play an important role in effective communication. Just as a badly chosen word or a raised voice can upset a listener and close the door to further dialogue, so too can an unintentionally aggressive nonverbal cue. One way to ensure that nonverbal signals don’t undermine verbal communication is to remain calm and avoid becoming overly stressed during a discussion. Staying calm and maintaining a comfortable amount of eye contact while respecting personal space can increase receptivity.
    Listen Actively. Effective communication includes the ability to listen well. In addition to avoiding obvious distractions such as cell phones and using body language to demonstrate attentiveness, it is also important to allow the other person to finish speaking before formulating our own response. Paraphrasing what the other person has said to make sure we have understood correctly and refraining from offering advice unless asked to do so are two more ways to listen effectively.
    Thank you for your listening. Hope this lecture will be helpful and you will be a better communicator.
    16. According to Dr. Wood, what is essential to forming a good family atmosphere?
    17. Which of the following is helpful for minimizing outside distractions during communication?
    18. Which of the following should be avoided in order to make a conversation smooth?
    19. What is essential to be a good listener?