By  Isabel Rojas Sirias - School of Education Student

The 21st century has brought many changes in society. What demands are there to keep up the pace? Specifically, in speaking skills, what are the challenges and demands? According to Joynes et al. (2019), 21st Century Skills involve life skills, soft skills, critical skills, and digital skills. But basically, besides these mentioned skills, Joynes also notes that there are five key areas which are communication skills, collaborative skills, individual learning approaches, individual autonomy and ICT and digital literacy. This report will highlight and answer these questions through a brief argumentation considering English communication skills as the most important. To fulfill the 21st expectations, the demands on speaking skills revolve around commerce, economy, interpretations, and public speaking.

Communication skills refer to oral, written, nonverbal and listening skills, and they are the gateway to develop other skills such as soft skills. Changes in today’s worldwide economy demand jobs with creativity, innovation, and effective communication. The world’s trade and commerce require people with effective English communication skills. As Sharma (2018) states, these skills help to do strategic business planning, manage people and sources, promote business, and enhance the innovative capabilities of organizations. Communication involves that and many other things. Therefore, developing good English communication skills will bring advantage to companies worldwide.

A company created a new brand and wants to market it around the globe. This company needs quality translations and interpretations when giving conferences to sell this brand. For the interpretation to be effective, the interpreter needs to focus on the message and the audience. It is not easy to participate in an international business meeting being an interpreter if the participants speak different languages. Therefore, effective, and clear communication is vital, considering the language requirements and fluency. Linked with interpretation comes public speaking.

Standing on a stage in front of an audience and delivering a speech in English is a moment for success. It is a way to market yourself in front of others who may be looking for the right candidate for their company. This is a real job opportunity. But, in order to do so, public speaking demands training, practicing, and having excellent English communication skills. Being confident when speaking in public can bring many opportunities in this 21st century.

21st century has brought around many changes. Among these, the improvement and management of English-speaking skills. Am I ready for this challenge? How can I improve? What benefits will this bring me? What I can assure you is that having excellent English-speaking skills depends only on yourself. If you want to be updated and answer to the world´s expectations, be prepared, train, take courses, read, practice and, above all, be confident.

 

MOXIE es el Canal de ULACIT (www.ulacit.ac.cr), producido por y para los estudiantes universitarios, en alianza con el medio periodístico independiente Delfino.cr, con el propósito de brindarles un espacio para generar y difundir sus ideas.  Se llama Moxie - que en inglés urbano significa tener la capacidad de enfrentar las dificultades con inteligencia, audacia y valentía - en honor a nuestros alumnos, cuyo “moxie” los caracteriza.

 

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