opinion essay about face to face communication

Face-to-Face Communication: Why It Is Better Than Other Types of Communication

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Introduction

Understanding the superiority of face-to-face communication, works cited.

In the recent past, owing to advances in technology-oriented forms of communication such as email, mobile phones and short messaging service, the idea that face-to-face communication was increasingly becoming irrelevant had gained much currency.

Today, however, many of these predictions regarding the irrelevancy of face-to-face communication in contemporary world have themselves began to fade away as people realize that it is difficult if not impossible to replace face-to-face communication with any other form of communication (Winger 247).

It is argued in this paper that personal face-to-face communication is better than any other types of communication, particularly in light of engaging with others and observing verbal and non-verbal behavioral styles, occurrence in real-time as opposed to non-synchronized time, and its capacity to provide human contact among communicators.

Extant literature demonstrates that face-to-face communication is better than any other types of communication as it provides the capacity to engage with others and observe important verbal and non-verbal behavioral styles during communication (Arvey 6). Many assiduous managers always encourage employees to engage others on a personal level while communicating not only to strengthen organizational culture, but also to spur creativity and innovation (Lightfoot 220).

Additionally, communication experts have always stressed the importance of observing verbal and non-verbal cues while communicating to rightfully interpret the meaning of the message being communicated (Lightfoot 219). Lastly, within this context, scholars believe that socially interactive technologies (e.g., Internet, mobile phones, social networking sites and instant messaging) will never act as a replacement for face-to-face communication due to their failure to elicit emotions associated with non-verbal cues (Young 21).

Face-to-face communication occurs in real-time, hence is a critical communication tool in situations and contexts where decisions need to be made quickly (Pierce 1371). Unlike other types of communication which occur in non-synchronized time formats, face-to-face communication ensures that the message is received in the intended context and content (Young 23). Additionally, any clarifications that may be needed are provided in real-time.

This is not the case in other forms of communication such as e-mail owing to the fact that the sender may not be there in real-time to provide clarifications to the receiver, leading to ambiguity and misinterpretation of the message (Lightfoot 218). Lastly, due to the fact that face-to-face communication occurs in real-time, communicators put more thought in what they say than they would when communicating using other modes such as email or mobile phones (Lightfoot 223).

The third reason deals with the provision of human closeness and contact among communicators. Available literature demonstrates that “being physically close brings into play in a robust way all of the senses: sight, sound, smell and touch” (Winger 248).

Moreover, personal face-to-face communication enables humans to achieve the primitive need of contact in line with scientific findings that people are social creatures that should not be allowed to live in isolation (Arvey 6). Lastly, research demonstrates that the human contact occasioned by face-to-face communication provides an enabling environment for people to develop substantial exchange relationships among themselves (Young 25).

Of course critics often argue that it is just a matter of time before socially interactive technologies replace face-to-face communication as the dominant mode of communication. Indeed, extant literature demonstrates that “in 2005, more than 21 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 had access to and routinely used the internet” (Pierce 1367). But in view of the many values of face-to-face communication as discussed above, it is difficult to foresee a scenario where this form of communication will ever become irrelevant.

In conclusion, it is evident that face-to-face communication will rule the world scene for years due to the stated strengths of engaging with others, employment of verbal and non-verbal behavioral cues, occurrence in real-time, and provision of human contact and closeness among communicators. No any other form of communication can be as clearer and understandable as face-to-face communication.

Arvey, Richard D. Why Face-to-Face Business Meetings Matter . n.d. Web.

Lightfoot, Jay M. “A Comparative Analysis of E-mail and Face-to-Face Communication in an Educational Environment.” Internet and Higher Education . 9.2 (2006): 217-227. Web.

Pierce, Tamyra. “Social Anxiety and Technology: Face-to-Face Communication versus Technological Communication among Teens.” Computers in Human Behavior . 25.6 (2009): 1367-1372. Academic Search Premier . Web.

Winger, Alan R. “Face-to-Face Communication: Is it Really Necessary in a Digitalized World?” Business Horizons . 48.2 (2005): 247-253. Web.

Young, David P. “The Relationship between Electronic and Face-to-Face Communication and its Implication for Alternative Workforce Strategies.” Facilities . 13.6 (1995): 20-27. Emerald . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2018, December 19). Face-to-Face Communication: Why It Is Better Than Other Types of Communication. https://ivypanda.com/essays/face-to-face-communication-why-it-is-better-than-other-types-of-communication/

"Face-to-Face Communication: Why It Is Better Than Other Types of Communication." IvyPanda , 19 Dec. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/face-to-face-communication-why-it-is-better-than-other-types-of-communication/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Face-to-Face Communication: Why It Is Better Than Other Types of Communication'. 19 December.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Face-to-Face Communication: Why It Is Better Than Other Types of Communication." December 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/face-to-face-communication-why-it-is-better-than-other-types-of-communication/.

1. IvyPanda . "Face-to-Face Communication: Why It Is Better Than Other Types of Communication." December 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/face-to-face-communication-why-it-is-better-than-other-types-of-communication/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Face-to-Face Communication: Why It Is Better Than Other Types of Communication." December 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/face-to-face-communication-why-it-is-better-than-other-types-of-communication/.

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Ielts essay # 1147 - face-to-face communication will become a thing of the past, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, with an increasing population communicating via the internet and text messaging, face-to-face communication will become a thing of the past..

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Why face-to-face communication matters (even with remote work)

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What is face-to-face communication?

6 benefits of face-to-face communication

5 disadvantages of face-to-face communication

How to improve face-to-face communication when working remotely

3 fundamental face-to-face communication skills for leaders

As an effective leader, you know that strong communication skills are essential for managing your team. 

Face-to-face communication is when two or more people can see each other while communicating. It encourages engagement and participation in meetings and builds a company culture of trust .

But since the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have shifted to a remote working model at least part of the time . This paradigm shift poses a challenge to leaders who want to maintain face-to-face communication with their teams.

But why is face-to-face communication important for effective leadership ? And is it still relevant in the digital era? If so, how can managers of remote teams continue to leverage its power? Read on to find out.

What is face-to-face communication? 

Face-to-face communication is when two or more people interact and communicate while visible to one another. This might be a physical, in-person conversation, or it could be in a virtual setting.

Face-to-face communication is often more effective than written or audio-only conversations. This is because seeing one another allows us to pick up on nonverbal cues and body language . And because a lot of communication is nonverbal , being able to see each other helps us understand each other better.

Good leaders know that face-to-face communication helps them connect with their team members. 

For example, when you have to have a difficult conversation with an employee, you know it’s best to do it face-to-face.

In the digital age, video conferencing technology allows us to get face time with our colleagues even when we’re not physically in the same room as them. 

Virtual meetings have become the norm since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the way we work . Even as companies return to their offices, many continue to use a hybrid of in-person and remote working. 91% of employees say they want to keep working at least some of the time remotely , so it looks like remote work is here to stay.

Companies now rely heavily on online communication. This makes face-to-face communication more challenging than it used to be. 

But it was thanks to video conference software that the world kept going as we all sheltered in place. Video call became the main form of face-to-face communication for remote workers .

Let’s take a look at the importance of face-to-face communication and how it can help your remote team work together more effectively.

1. It keeps employees in the loop

Remote working has its advantages . For example, you save time and money on commuting, and you get to wear your pajamas during the working day. It also may provide better work life balance . 

But it also has its drawbacks. One of them is that remote team members can feel lonely or left out. This is especially true when part of your team works in the office, and the other part works remotely.

Keep everyone in the loop by maintaining regular face-to-face communication. Try to include different types of meetings, including a mix of one-to-one and team meetings, so that remote colleagues feel included. 

You might even want to consider virtual coffee breaks or other team-building activities . This will help strengthen connections among team members. 

2. It reduces misunderstandings

Being able to see each other’s nonverbal communication cues helps us understand what the other person is saying more easily.

Other communication channels, such as email or audio calls, are less reliable. They’re more likely to lead to miscommunication and lost information. 63% of people have missed important information stuck in an absent colleague’s inbox. 

Face-to-face communication can also help with conflict resolution by reducing misunderstandings.

3. It’s quicker and more efficient

We’ve all experienced a long, annoying email chain that could have been resolved in five minutes with a face-to-face conversation.

Emails are a notorious time waster and not beneficial for productivity . The average employee spends more than 3 hours per day communicating by email for work-related reasons.

Plus, after every distracting ping of an incoming email, it takes 64 seconds to refocus your attention . All of this contributes to a loss of focus and lower productivity.

Well-connected teams are 20–25% more productive than disconnected ones. One of the best ways to foster that connection is through face-to-face communication.

4. It boosts engagement

Face-to-face team meetings are a great way to create a sense of community . They also encourage active engagement and participation in a way that emails and instant messaging can’t.

Fortunately, virtual meetings can be just as effective as in-person ones. In fact, for many teams, virtual meetings were the glue that held them together during the height of the pandemic. They helped people to focus during days that seemed very uncertain.

The success of face-to-face meetings depends on whether the participants feel heard . It turns out that people are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered when they feel heard. So encouraging your employees to speak up in meetings can help to boost engagement .

5. It builds trust

Trust is a crucial component of any successful team. Face-to-face interaction strengthens interpersonal connections among team members. This helps to establish and build trust . Especially if you're investing in virtual team building , it's important to leverage face-to-face interaction to build trust. 

This is just as true for your clients as it is for your team. A team with a high level of trust works better together and is more productive. Similarly, building relationships with your clients also requires trust.

Face-to-face communication can help build trust through nonverbal cues such as:

• Eye contact
• Tone of voice
• Facial expressions

6. It can make you more persuasive

If you wanted to ask a favor of a colleague, would it be better to do it in person or by phone? Instinctively, you probably think that a face-to-face meeting would be more effective.

And you’re right. It’s much harder to say “no” to someone’s face than it is to hit send on an email. 

So, when you want to use your powers of persuasion to influence your colleagues , it’s best to do it face-to-face.

Not only can you engage them through nonverbal cues, but you can also watch them and assess their reactions. This allows you to see whether your argument is working or if you need to change tactics.

5 disadvantages of face-to-face communication 

So, does face-to-face communication have any disadvantages? Well, it depends on the context and what you’re trying to achieve. 

Let’s explore a few scenarios in which face-to-face communication may not be the best or most efficient option.

1. You’re part of a global remote team

When large numbers of people are involved, instant messaging channels such as Slack or even email can be a more efficient way to communicate. 

This is especially true for teams who work across time zones and set their own schedules, for example, a team of freelancers.

In these cases, written communication allows team members to participate in the discussion when it’s convenient for them. But even in remote teams, there are still opportunities for virtual team building . 

2. You want to schedule an event

If you’re organizing a meeting or event, email is often the most efficient way to communicate. This is because it gives the organizer a written record of attendance. 

Email invitations sync to participants’ calendars. They also contain the information attendees need and can refer to, making them a convenient way to organize events.

3. You only need to check something

Perhaps you’ve forgotten a client’s name or misplaced your meeting notes. When all you need is a quick answer, sometimes the best option is to pick up the phone and call. You also have it written in front of you so you can refer to it later on.

Since it doesn’t require scheduling a meeting, it saves you time. It also means you don’t have to spend time composing an email and waiting for a reply when a 30-second conversation is all it takes.

4. You want to share information with your whole team

If you have to make an important announcement, a company-wide memo may be a better option than a face-to-face meeting.

Some companies create videos or other media to share on their social media platforms. You can also send newsletters or create a blog or LinkedIn Pulse publication.

5. Your team has Zoom fatigue

If virtual meetings have replaced in-person ones within your workplace, it’s important to recognize that employees may have multiple meetings scheduled throughout their day. 

Zoom fatigue is real , so leaders must create a balance between face-to-face communication and other options to help employees stay mentally fit . 

How to improve face-to-face communication when working remotely 

Perhaps you’re wondering how you can improve your remote team’s face-to-face communication. If so, here are five tips you can start implementing right away.

1. Provide communication tools

Not having adequate communication tools can be an obstacle to remote face-to-face communication.

Start by making sure all your team members have access to the same software — whether it’s Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, or another provider.

When choosing a digital communication tool for your team, make sure it has both video chat and other collaboration features such as screen sharing.

2. Schedule regular video calls

If you want your team to take face-to-face communication seriously, make sure they block out time in their schedules for it .

Try to include a variety of opportunities for face-to-face communication, such as:

• Weekly team meetings
• Monthly one-on-ones
• Periodic coffee chats

Find ways to keep your team active and engaged during calls. Encourage active participation, but be aware that not everyone has the same communication style.

For example, some people may communicate better in one-on-one meetings than in group meetings. For this reason, it’s important to create a variety of touchpoints and ways to communicate face-to-face.

3. Host office hours

If you’re a leader, block out some time each week for office hours. Let colleagues know that, since they can’t physically knock on your office door or catch you in the corridor, you’re making this time available for them.

This will make your team members feel supported and help to build their trust in you. Employees are craving trust , social cohesion, and finding purpose in their work . They also want to feel their achievements are recognized . 

Use this time to support colleagues with problem-solving or finding ways to align on expectations or work toward their career aspirations .

4. Prioritize team calls

If you’re a team leader, it’s essential to lead by example . Prioritize your face-to-face meetings with your team by scheduling them in your calendar. Avoid canceling or showing up late. 

Show them through your leadership behaviors that face-to-face communication is important. If you take team meetings as seriously as you take client meetings, your team members will do the same. This will encourage greater team cohesion and better collaboration.

5. Work on your communication skills

Every organization — and every team leader — lives and dies by its communication abilities. If you’re in a leadership role, there’s a good chance you already have decent communication skills , but there’s always room for improvement.

In the next section, we’ll break down some specific communication skills that you can work on developing.

Let’s take a look at three skills you can develop as a leader for better face-to-face communication.

Listening skills

Did you know that your ability to listen is just as important as your speaking skills — especially in the digital era? Or that there are different types of listening that you need to use depending on the circumstances?

When you think of communication, you may think of speaking skills. But developing your listening skills is just as important. Listening effectively can include: 

• Checking for understanding
• Being patient
• Letting others talk

Nonverbal cues

In face-to-face communication, it’s important to pay attention to nonverbal cues. These include:

• Body movement 

You should notice the nonverbal cues of others while also paying attention to the cues that you may be giving off too.

Giving and receiving feedback

As a leader, an important part of communication is giving your team effective feedback that they can use to be successful. At the same time, you should know how to ask for and receive feedback from your team. 

Model all three of these communication behaviors and encourage your team members to do the same. And remember that leading by example is far more effective than simply giving orders. If you communicate effectively, your team will do the same.

Face-to-face communication is more important than ever

Face-to-face communication is more important than ever before in the post-pandemic world. 

It can help build trust and foster relationships among team members and with their managers. It can also lead to better collaboration, greater productivity, and more innovation and creativity . 

Fortunately, video conferencing technology makes face-to-face communication possible even for remote teams. 

If you would like support in improving your team’s face-to-face communication, request a custom demo with BetterUp . We specialize in helping professionals improve key leadership skills such as communication.

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Maggie Wooll, MBA

Maggie Wooll is a researcher, author, and speaker focused on the evolving future of work. Formerly the lead researcher at the Deloitte Center for the Edge, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Maggie is passionate about creating better work and greater opportunities for all.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Face to Face Interaction (Real Past IELTS Tests/Exams)

by Dave | Real Past Tests | 11 Comments

This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer essay from the real past IELTS test/exam on the topic of social media and face-to-face interaction.

Topics like this come up a lot, just a few weeks ago there was a question on social media and there is another one on spoken communication that I wrote a PDF about (that you can access through my Patreon ).

Read below to see how I handled it and remember to keep checking out the recent writing topics here!

Before reading, do some listening practice by taking notes on vocabulary/ideas with the audio of my essay:

The use of social media is replacing face-to-face interaction among many people in society. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Real Past IELTS Test/Exam

Many people today believe that social media has largely supplanted traditional face-to-face interpersonal relationships, leading to worsening communication skills. I fully agree with this point of view though I concede the advantages of social media for entrepreneurs.

Social media has been a boon for anyone interested in starting their own business. In the past, if someone wanted to start a business the avenues were more limited and likely presupposed some inherited capital. Social media, beginning with Facebook and now being brought to fruition with apps like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, opens up possibilities for content creators to communicate with their audience around the world. This applies to larger than life success stories like Justin Bieber, who went viral and rose from relative obscurity to global stardom, as well as more modest examples like the various Instagram artists and models who interact and generate income and publicity from their loyal fan bases.

Despite the aforementioned advantages, social media has degraded the general quality of communication. Those most affected are young users. In school, children and teenagers must develop their interpersonal skills by telling jokes, engaging in playful banter, and arguing about personal and political topics. Over time, some people distinguish themselves as great storytellers or compelling speakers while others at least improve their communication skills. In contrast, young people today are more likely to communicate by texting and interacting through fleeting comments as they impatiently scroll through their various feeds. They do not get quality feedback on their output and so develop haphazardly, not knowing whether or not their jokes and points ever really connect.

In conclusion, social media has hurt communication, overshadowing all its economic utility. Parents ought to limit phone use for children and themselves in order to fight the rising influence of technology that humanity is not evolved enough to deal with responsibly.

Word count: 298

1. Many people today believe that social media has largely supplanted traditional face-to-face interpersonal relationships, leading to worsening communication skills. 2. I fully agree with this point of view though I concede the advantages of social media for entrepreneurs.

• Paraphrase the overall topic for the essay. Show off a bit if you are confident, if not keep it simple and fast!
• State your opinion clearly. I included my main ideas here but you don’t have to.

1. Social media has been a boon for anyone interested in starting their own business. 2. In the past, if someone wanted to start a business the avenues were more limited and likely presupposed some inherited capital. 3. Social media, beginning with Facebook and now being brought to fruition with apps like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, opens up possibilities for content creators to communicate with their audience around the world. 4. This applies to larger than life success stories like Justin Bieber, who went viral and rose from relative obscurity to global stardom, as well as more modest examples like the various Instagram artists and models who interact and generate income and publicity from their loyal fan bases.

• Write a topic sentence with a clear, single main idea at the end.
• Begin to develop it. I start by comparing now to the past to strengthen my point.
• Here I write specifially about the apps people use and how they can help people start a business.
• I add in some more specific examples and finish developing my main idea fully. This is a really long sentence – only write sentences this long if you can do it clearly and your grammar is really strong.

1. Despite the aforementioned advantages, social media has degraded the general quality of communication. 2. Those most affected are young users. 3. In school, children and teenagers must develop their interpersonal skills by telling jokes, engaging in playful banter, and arguing about personal and political topics. 4. Over time, some people distinguish themselves as great storytellers or compelling speakers while others at least improve their communication skills. 5. In contrast, young people today are more likely to communicate by texting and interacting through fleeting comments as they impatiently scroll through their various feeds. 6. They do not get quality feedback on their output and so develop haphazardly, not knowing whether or not their jokes and points ever really connect.

• A new topic sentence with a new main idea related to communication. Read more about topic sentences here .
• Start to develop and focus your main idea. Use a variety of short and long sentences to give the reader a breath.
• Develop your idea as specifically as possible – avoid being general!
• You can describe the result or how this changes over time as I do here.
• Again, keep it specific – this will help your cohesion and coherence, task achievement and vocabulary scores!
• Finish developing your point – don’t worry about summarising, it’s not important.

1. In conclusion, social media has hurt communication, overshadowing all its economic utility. 2. Parents ought to limit phone use for children and themselves in order to fight the rising influence of technology that humanity is not evolved enough to deal with responsibly.

• Repeat your opinion.
• Add in an extra detail/final thought for full points for task achievement.

What do the words in below mean?

Many people today believe that social media has largely supplanted traditional face-to-face interpersonal relationships , leading to worsening communication skills. I fully agree with this point of view though I concede the advantages of social media for entrepreneurs .

Social media has been a boon for anyone interested in starting their own business. In the past, if someone wanted to start a business the avenues were more limited and likely presupposed some inherited capital . Social media, beginning with Facebook and now being brought to fruition with apps like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, opens up possibilities for content creators to communicate with their audience around the world. This applies to larger than life success stories like Justin Bieber, who went viral and rose from relative obscurity to global stardom , as well as more modest examples like the various Instagram artists and models who interact and generate income and publicity from their loyal fan bases .

Despite the aforementioned advantages, social media has degraded the general quality of communication. Those most affected are young users. In school, children and teenagers must develop their interpersonal skills by telling jokes, engaging in playful banter , and arguing about personal and political topics. Over time, some people distinguish themselves as great storytellers or compelling speakers while others at least improve their communication skills. In contrast, young people today are more likely to communicate by texting and interacting through fleeting comments as they impatiently scroll through their various feeds . They do not get quality feedback on their output and so develop haphazardly , not knowing whether or not their jokes and points ever really connect .

In conclusion, social media has hurt communication, overshadowing all its economic utility . Parents ought to limit phone use for children and themselves in order to fight the rising influence of technology that humanity is not evolved enough to deal with responsibly .

largely mostly

supplanted taken the place of

traditional face-to-face interpersonal relationships talking and interacting normally with people

worsening becoming bad

concede admit

entrepreneurs people who start their own businesses

avenues pathways

limited not many ways

presupposed had to have/prerequisite

inherited capital money you get from your parents/relatives

brought to fruition become the finished product

opens up possibilities allows for lots of different methods

content creators people who make videos, music, podcasts, etc.

applies is true for

larger than life success stories famous stories of wildy successful people

viral all over the internet

relative obscurity not widely known

global stardom superstar

modest examples humble stories

generate create/make

publicity attention

loyal fan bases devoted fans

aforementioned just talked about

degraded getting worse

general quality overall level

engaging in playful banter chatting/joking with each other

distinguish set yourself apart

storytellers people who tell stories

compelling speakers moving speakers

at least at the minimum

fleeting comments unimportant interactions

impatiently scroll quickly go through

feeds online updates on Facebook, Instagram

quality feedback constructive criticism

output what you say/write

develop haphazardly mutate/no structured growth

connect resonate with

overshadowing stronger than

economic utility ability to make money

rising influence becoming more important

not evolved enough underdeveloped

deal with responsibly handle maturely

Pronunciation

ˈlɑːʤli   səˈplɑːntɪd   trəˈdɪʃənl feɪs-tuː-feɪs ˌɪntəˈpɜːsən(ə)l rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps ˈwɜːsnɪŋ   kənˈsiːd   ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːz buːn ˈævɪnjuːz   ˈlɪmɪtɪd   ˌpriːsəˈpəʊzd   ɪnˈhɛrɪtɪd ˈkæpɪtl brɔːt tuː fru(ː)ˈɪʃən   ˈəʊpənz ʌp ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪtiz   ˈkɒntɛnt kri(ː)ˈeɪtəz   əˈplaɪz   ˈlɑːʤə ðæn laɪf səkˈsɛs ˈstɔːriz   ˈvaɪərəl   ˈrɛlətɪv əbˈskjʊərɪti   ˈgləʊbəl ˈstɑːdəm ˈmɒdɪst ɪgˈzɑːmplz   ˈʤɛnəreɪt   pʌbˈlɪsɪti   ˈlɔɪəl fæn ˈbeɪsiːz əˌfɔːˈmɛnʃənd   dɪˈgreɪdɪd   ˈʤɛnərəl ˈkwɒlɪti   ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ ɪn ˈpleɪfʊl ˈbæntə dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃ   ˈstɔːrɪˌtɛləz   kəmˈpɛlɪŋ ˈspiːkəz   æt liːst   ˈfliːtɪŋ ˈkɒmɛnts   ɪmˈpeɪʃəntli skrəʊl   fiːdz ˈkwɒlɪti ˈfiːdbæk   ˈaʊtpʊt   dɪˈvɛləp ˈhæpˈhæzədli kəˈnɛkt ˌəʊvəˈʃædəʊɪŋ   ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ju(ː)ˈtɪlɪti ˈraɪzɪŋ ˈɪnflʊəns   nɒt ɪˈvɒlvd ɪˈnʌf   diːl wɪð rɪsˈpɒnsəbli

Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice

Many people today believe that social media has ____________ ____________ , leading to ____________ communication skills. I fully agree with this point of view though I ____________ the advantages of social media for ____________ .

Social media has been a ____________ for anyone interested in starting their own business. In the past, if someone wanted to start a business the ____________ were more ____________ and likely ____________ some ____________ . Social media, beginning with Facebook and now being ____________ with apps like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, ____________ for ____________ to communicate with their audience around the world. This ____________ to ____________ like Justin Bieber, who went ____________ and rose from ____________ to ____________ , as well as more ____________ like the various Instagram artists and models who interact with and ____________ income and ____________ from their ____________ .

Despite the ____________ advantages, social media has ____________ the ____________ of communication. Those most affected are young users. In school, children and teenagers must develop their interpersonal skills by telling jokes, ____________ , and arguing about personal and political topics. Over time, some people ____________ themselves as great ____________ or ____________ while others ____________ improve their communication skills. In contrast, young people today are more likely to communicate by texting and interacting through ____________ as they ____________ through their various ____________ . They do not get ____________ on their ____________ and so ____________ , not knowing whether or not their jokes and points ever really ____________ .

In conclusion, social media has hurt communication, ____________ all its ____________ . Parents ought to limit phone use for children and themselves in order to fight the ____________ of technology that humanity is ____________ to ____________ .

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Listen to the former Facebook executive below on how social media is ripping society apart:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78oMjNCAayQ

Reading Practice

Read about another former Facebook employee and his thoughts on how Facebook exploits human vulnerabilities:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/09/facebook-sean-parker-vulnerability-brain-psychology

Speaking Practice

These questions are from Speaking Part 3 (from the real speaking exam), try using all the new ideas and vocabulary you just learned to answer them:

Mobile Phones and Smartphones

• What are the advantages of smartphones?
• Should children be allowed to own smartphones?
• Do you thinks have a major or minor impact on mental health?
• Where in your country is it not appropriate to use a phone?
• Do you think smartphone usage may decline in the future?

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11 Comments

The use of social media is replacing face-to-face interaction among many people in society. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Nowadays, technology has changed our world in many aspects, such as the way of interacting with people. Many people believe that the use of social media has been improved over the years and the majority of people are using it in their everyday lives. However, it is undeniable that our way of handling communication in the real world has been affected by this transformation. Despite some disadvantages, I strongly believe that social media is beneficial in our society for various reasons. To start with, it is worth considering that the use of social media brought us to a safer world in terms of communication by not having a face-to-face conversation with strangers. Besides, it allowed the society to have freedom of speech and expression. People now can comment on thoughts and express feelings to a certain issue that can only be seen on social media. Moreover, this kind of method can save time and money as well as letting people have the ability to multitask. A recent study shows that technology nowadays has a positive impact on our mental capacity in terms of interaction with other people unlike the traditional form of communication. Also, it is quite impossible to deny the fact that social media has opened the gate to keep in touch with our loved ones away from us. Facebook, Skype, and Instagram are examples of social media sites that help us to easily and conveniently connect with people. One example of this is my personal experience considering that more of my family members are working abroad. I can now call or message them whenever I like through social media sites, unlike before that I could only communicate in long distance by using a payphone or writing a letter that could take time before receiving it. In conclusion, advantages far outweigh the disadvantages of using social media as a form of communication rather than face-to-face interaction. In the coming years, as technology develops, there is no doubt to believe that social media could be more useful in our modern life.

Well written Jessica!

Here is some feedback:

1. Try to write a shorter introduction – maximum 3 sentences! 2. Your second paragraph is a little confused. When you write the main idea – safer – try to develop that one idea with a specific example/ideas. You jump around too much and the last sentence is unnecessary and repetitive. 3. Your third paragraph is better but try to relate it a bit more strongly to the fact that even though people must give up some face to face communication, the fact that they can communicate with people living far away makes up for the loss. 4. Good conclusion but make sure that your last sentence is about communication, not social media in general!

Thanks sir! What would be my score in this? 🙂

Hard to say exactly but you are close to what you need!

THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS REPLACING FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION AMONG MANY PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY. DO YOU THINK THE ADVANTAGE OUTWEIGHS THE DISADVANTAGE?

Greater number of people today have come to the conclusion that social media use is taking the lead over face-to-face interaction, thereby reducing the quality of communication. I do agree that social media is now the thing of the day, no one bothers to see face-to-face to discuss anything, although aside the disadvantage,it is of great advantage to Business Tycoons.

Social media has become the best way for most people to converse,no one wants to have a sit and chat together including Family members, they now have social media handles where they tackle their issues,discuss challenges for example WHATSAPP GROUPS. What about the Young people who also have been affected seriously especially in area of academics. They get so distracted with the entertainments found on the different social media platform like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp. Most of them would tell you they are reading on Facebook but when you check they are actually watching pictures,playing videos, comedy skits etc, thereby distracting then from study.

While we hold on to the disadvantage,it was found out that theBusiness Tycoons have taken over the social media as their new business platform. They post their different businesses online,market online,and do not need to meet their prospective customers physically for payment or delivery, everything is done online.for example JUMIA,who markets online,makes provision for you to pay and delivers to you,including so many others.

In conclusion, Social media has eaten up the flavour which comes from seeing face-to-face, it has takenaway the sincerity of heart of most individuals and it has turned students especially young people into becoming too lazy to study. I believe if parents reduce the limit at which their children use phone, it would produce more hardworking students thereby productive country. Also if families make out time to come together having physical contact other than online to discuss their issues, it will increase sincere feeling of love and unity.

Well written!

A few tips: 1. Try to write in 4 paragraphs, around 250-300 words because you will only have 40 minutes on the exam for task 2. 2. You don’t have to capitalise WhatsApp groups. 3. You should focus more on clear, relevant main ideas and support related to those main ideas, like in the structure of my sample answer. 4. Try to focus more on communication, not social media in general. How has communication changed because of social media?

Keep it up!

Thank you Sir, This was actually my first writing. Your response have given me more confidence, knowing I could do better with practice. Thank you. Keep doing the good work.

Keep up your hard work as well!

Although the rise of social media has brought forth a host of benefits in people’s lives, it has taken a toll on various aspects including the in-person conversations among them, which has been reduced to minimal verbal expressions. I, therefore, second the given opinion and assume that the negative impacts of the social media outrace the supposed benefits.

Your candid feedback on my introduction would be highly appreciated. Thank you so much.

Great work! Here are some corrections:

Although the rise of social media has brought forth a host of benefits , it has taken a toll on communicative ability , which has become more minimal . I, therefore, second the given opinion and believe that the negative impact of social media oustrips the supposed benefits.

Well written, be careful with making claims that are too strong such as saying that everyone’s responses are reduced to minimal verbal expressions. That is very hard to support and sounds like too strong of a claim.

Is it so-so essay?

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When Do We Really Need Face-to-Face Interactions?

• Robert Hooijberg
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We can do a lot virtually — but not everything.

While work will likely never go back to our pre-pandemic status quo, the future will be a blended one that leverages the best of what both virtual and face-to-face experiences can offer.  The authors argue that collaboration, innovation, acculturation, and dedication are difficult to replicate virtually and sustain without some face-to-face interaction. But to design in person environments that will be successful in the future, they say, you must create an immersive experience that incorporates elements like purposeful focus, interpersonal bonding, deep learning, unencumbered experimentation, and structured serendipity. While our blended future is still distant, companies will need to start considering what warrants face-to-face interaction and how to make the most of those precious opportunities.

The Covid-19 crisis has accelerated the adoption of new virtual ways of developing leaders and managing teams. But what will happen as we emerge from the crisis?

• Robert Hooijberg is a professor of organizational behavior at IMD.
• Michael D. Watkins is a professor of leadership and organizational change at IMD , a cofounder of Genesis Advisers , and the author of The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking .

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Band 4+: Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communications, such as letters, emails, or telephone calls.

It is widely argued that whether the best way to communicate face-to-face meeting or texting, talking with email, or telephone calls. Although, nowadays, communicate by texting or phone calls is easy and comfortable, to my way of thinking, face to face communication is more reliable.

On the one hand, owing to existence of modern to technology, it might be possible to have a phone conversation. Nowadays, technology develop day by day. As a result, with our telephones, we can easily communicate online. For example, with good internet connection and apps, such as Whatsapp, Telegram we can easily talk with our relatives without any problems. Thus, letters, email and phone calls one of the best way to communicate.

On the other hand, reliable way to conversation is face-to-face communication, due to you can see each other reaction which disappears in other kinds of conversation. Being present in the moment and observing someone’s responses encourage active listening and understanding. For instance, also hearing someone’s voice allows us to interpret their tone, and emphasis, adding layers of meaning that are lost in written communication. Hence, for truly reliable meeting, nothing beats a face to face interaction.

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Essay Writing Tips: The Importance of Face-to-Face Communication

By: Angelina Grin

The behaviorism topic often seems very easy to discuss: it is part of our daily lives, and we have to deal with socio-psychological phenomena every day. However, it will not be easy for a person who does not specialize in psychology to write an argued essay and draw any definite conclusion on such controversial topics as building business relationships, the importance of establishing personal connections, or face-to-face communication.

Essay Sample: Face-to-Face Communication Importance

Why is it not an a+ example, grab the attention, make an essay informative, create a great resume, a successful face-to-face communication importance essay is done.

In this guide, we will analyze an essay sample on the benefits of face-to-face communication in modern realities and try to find out the ways of improving it. We will also demonstrate to you the reasons why the examiner might consider your face-to-face communication essay a failure.

Now let’s look through a typical essay sample, written by a student N:

The world today provides a person with a whole network of different opportunities for communication. Most people today (probably only with the exception of the third world countries) actively operate phone calls and text messages, video conferencing, and emails. All these tools act as multifunctional assistants for the modern person in the conditions of his or her tight schedule when the inability to meet another one and conduct a face conversation is felt very acutely.

But could you remember the last time you really wanted to meet someone real-life? In what case would you prefer a tweet, email, or Skype call to the real sound of the voice, eye contact, or the smile of the person sitting across from you?

Such cases are becoming rarer and rarer, and the situation that’s unfolding in this regard is becoming more and more intimidating. We are gradually losing contact — the real one — and growing more and more distant from each other. Nearly five years ago, the idea of video chat with elderly parents living in a neighboring city seemed like a failed joke - and today, this practice is quite firmly embedded in our lives.

I earnestly believe that no technological progress can replace face-to-face communication. The introduction of digital communication capabilities has certainly made our lives easier, especially the processes of study and work, but the practice of 100% transferring them to personal life, in my opinion, will not affect the quality of personal connections well. I think the computerization of the family institution process is especially dangerous because, in this case, a person loses absolutely everything; he is left alone with the digitized world in complete miscommunication.

All in all, I want to conclude that the practice of face-to-face interaction is indispensable, and its value is particularly clearly visible in today’s rapidly developing world. This is what preserves the soul of a person, does not allow him to become just a page on Linkedin, and prevents the loss of their real tone of voice.

Although this essay is written in a rather journalistic language and has a clear appeal to the reader, it has some drawbacks that significantly reduce its value as a worthy piece of text:

• The content is mainly the position of a person who is not particularly versed in the topic.
• Structure neglect: the main parts division is observed, but there is a simple flow of thoughts in the body; statements exist in a gap from the illustrations - this complicates the perception.
• Lack of attachment to real life.
• Big amount of emotional details.

Nevertheless, these shortcomings can be easily corrected, and with their elimination, the essay has a solid chance to become a well-written text that deserves a high mark. Let’s see how to do this.

How to Improve the Sample Essay

To improve the essay, let’s review it and determine what strengths it has:

• All the basics are observed; the author does not get distracted from the topic.
• The journalistic style, as we noted above, is well done.
• The author’s position is sufficiently clear; it can be strengthened by illustrative arguments.

By identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the work, we can eliminate the shortcomings and improve the benefits. Let’s make a list of steps to boost the essay sample:

First impressions always count. By inventing a catchy title for your essay, including a bright quote in the introduction, or capturing attention with a rhetorical question, you increase the likelihood the reader will not leave your essay after reading the first paragraph (and this happens in about 50% of cases). Here is a way of how you can convert the introduction:

Do you remember a day you spent completely out of touch with the world? Probably not. Just like I don’t remember, neither do most people in the 21st century. Gadgets for us are now outlets to the world; they are the main means of maintaining contact with the people around us. However, in the context of recent events, how well do you remember the day when you communicated real-life with all the people you contact only via video meetings now? Do you remember what their tone of voice or their appearance in life is like? Do you remember the sense of community, the teamwork that was before the day of the total transition to online work, before the moment when all our environment began to fit into one laptop?

In this version of the introduction, the author refers to the reader’s memories. Drawing an analogy with himself, with “thousands like me.” he inspires a trusting atmosphere and contains a call to unite against a problem that worries many but is not yet spoken aloud everywhere. Here, rhetorical questions are used to attract the audience’s attention. Without the tools listed above, the introduction of the essay risks being dry and uninteresting - and losing the reader.

In an essay, it is important to observe the structure and pay most of your attention, obviously, to the main part. You need to build it as argued and meaningful as possible. Also, if necessary, you can use references to authoritative sources (especially if we are talking about the usage of scientific statements or direct citation). It is not superfluous to use tables and diagrams to illustrate and visualize the information that you are writing about. The introduction of terms also can be helpful — only in reasonable quantities. It is also important to avoid excessive emotionality, to keep a neutral intonation in the text, and to argue all the thoughts put forward in the process of writing.

All in all, everything is fine with the body part included in the sample. It contains an author’s position, which is important when writing a work. However, for greater completeness and reasonableness, you can add the points mentioned above.

For example, it will be good to include the information about research that has been conducted on the issue of face-to-face communication vs. messaging and what results from these studies show:

Proving the importance of face-to-face meetings, it is necessary to mention such a phenomenon as non-verbal cues. Some studies have proved the theory that only in real communication will people (team members, for instance) reveal themselves completely, using all communication tools: body language, eye contact, facial expressions, and tone of voice. No instant message platforms or other means of communication fully engage all these parameters. With prolonged exposure without complete visual and verbal communication, the human nervous system changes; it is fraught with the development of mental disorders.

The main idea contained in the sample output is good, but it needs to be expanded and include all the main points mentioned earlier. Here, as in the introduction, it will be nice to play on a bright phrase, quote, or conclusion:

“The only luxury I know is the luxury of human communication,” Antoine de Saint-Exupery once said. In my opinion, this idea, which has passed through the centuries, has not only not lost its relevance but also gained a new meaning in connection with the widespread introduction of inventions of scientific and technological inventions. I hope that I was able to prove the practice of face-to-face communication is indispensable, and its value is particularly visible in today’s rapidly developing world. This is what preserves the soul of a person, does not allow him to become just a page on LinkedIn, and prevents the loss of their real tone of voice.

Now you are armed with everything you need to write a powerful essay. However, if doubts still creep in or you need to hand over the paper as soon as possible, our experts are always here to help you!

Experts at Studybay have a wealth of knowledge and many years of experience working with school and student texts, so they have a unique approach to each type of work and each case in particular. Feel free to ask questions! Knowledgeable people are here to help you get the best.

Check out our other web pages for more essay help and essay editing . Alternatively, you may wish to use our proofreading services for polishing and perfecting your essay to give you that extra grade boost!

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The dying art of conversation – has technology killed our ability to talk  face-to -face?

Senior Lecturer, Media, Communication and Culture, Leeds Beckett University

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Melanie Chan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Leeds Beckett University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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What with Facetime, Skype , Whatsapp and Snapchat, for many people, face-to-face conversation is used less and less often.

These apps allow us to converse with each other quickly and easily – overcoming distances, time zones and countries. We can even talk to virtual assistants such as Alexa, Cortana or Siri – commanding them to play our favourite songs, films, or tell us the weather forecast.

Often these ways of communicating reduce the need to speak to another human being. This has led to some of the conversational snippets of our daily lives now taking place mainly via technological devices . So no longer do we need to talk with shop assistants, receptionists, bus drivers or even coworkers, we simply engage with a screen to communicate whatever it is we want to say.

In fact, in these scenarios, we tend to only speak to other people when the digital technology does not operate successfully. For instance, human contact occurs when we call for an assistant to help us when an item is not recognised at the self-service checkout .

And when we have the ability to connect so quickly and easily with others using technological devices and software applications it is easy to start to overlook the value of face-to-face conversation. It seems easier to text someone rather than meet with them.

Bodily cues

My research into digital technologies indicates that phrases such as “word of mouth” or “keeping in touch” point to the importance of face-to-face conversation . Indeed, face-to-face conversation can strengthen social ties: with our neighbours, friends, work colleagues and other people we encounter during our day.

It acknowledges their existence, their humanness, in ways that instant messaging and texting do not. Face-to-face conversation is a rich experience that involves drawing on memories, making connections, making mental images, associations and choosing a response. Face-to-face conversation is also multisensory: it’s not just about sending or receiving pre-programmed trinkets such as likes, cartoon love hearts and grinning yellow emojis.

When having a conversation using video you mainly see another person’s face only as a flat image on a screen. But when we have a face-to-face conversation in real life, we can look into someone’s eyes, reach out and touch them. We can also observe the other person’s body posture and the gestures they use when speaking – and interpret these accordingly. All these factors, contribute to the sensory intensity and depth of the face-to-face conversations we have in daily life.

Speaking to machines

Sherry Turkle , professor of social studies of science and technology, warns that when we first “speak through machines, [we] forget how essential face-to-face conversation is to our relationships, our creativity, and our capacity for empathy”. But then “we take a further step and speak not just through machines but to machines”.

In many ways, our everyday lives now involve a blend of face-to-face and technologically mediated forms of communication. But in my teaching and research I explain how digital forms of communication can supplement, rather than replace face-to-face conversation.

At the same time though, it is also important to acknowledge that some people value online communication because they can express themselves in ways they might find difficult through face-to-face conversation.

Look up from your phone

Gary Turk , is a spoken word poet whose poem Look Up illustrates what is at stake by becoming entranced by technological ways of communicating at the expense of connecting with others face-to-face.

Turk’s poem draws attention to the rich, sensory aspects of face-to-face communication, valuing bodily presence in relation to friendship, companionship and intimacy. The central idea running through Turk’s evocative poem is that screen-based devices consume our attention while distancing us from the bodily sense of being with others.

Ultimately the sound, touch, smell and observation of bodily cues we experience when having a face-to-face conversation cannot be fully replaced by our technological devices. Communicating and connecting with others through face-to-face discussion is valuable because it is not something that can be edited, paused or replayed.

So next time you’re deciding between human or machine at the supermarket checkout or whether to get up from your desk and walk to another office to talk to a colleague – rather than sending them an email – it might be worth following Turk’s advice and engaging with the human rather than the screen.

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• Conversations

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