Communication Skills

Course Provider:

Credits: 1

Course Description

Communication Skills for Work and Life is a ten-module adult education course designed to build the practical reading, writing, and critical communication skills learners need for the workplace and everyday life. Across the course, students progress from foundational grammar, tone, and register to real-world applications such as writing professional emails, interpreting documents like leases and pay stubs, evaluating the credibility of sources and media, and producing job-search materials including resumes, cover letters, and formal letters. The course culminates in units on using AI as a writing tool responsibly and navigating professional norms across digital communication platforms, equipping learners with the communication competencies needed to succeed in employment, consumer, and community contexts.

Textbook: No textbook required — all readings, primary sources, images, and media are provided within the course.

Course Objectives

Apply standard English grammar, punctuation, and conventions, and adjust tone and register appropriately for formal and informal contexts.

Write clear, professional emails and formal letters suited to workplace, consumer, and community situations.

Read and interpret real-world documents — such as leases, pay stubs, benefits letters, and utility notices — including technical vocabulary, tables, and forms.

Evaluate the credibility of online and print sources using established criteria, and recognize bias and misinformation.

Analyze speeches and media content to distinguish fact from opinion and identify persuasive techniques.

Produce a professional resume and cover letter tailored to a specific job posting, and accurately complete online job applications.

Draft a formal letter that states a clear purpose, provides supporting reasoning, and makes a specific request.

Evaluate and revise AI-generated writing for accuracy, tone, and audience, while applying ethical standards for AI use in academic and workplace contexts.

Select appropriate platforms, tone, and register for digital communication, and apply responsible digital citizenship practices.

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Course Contents

Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Everyday English
Module 2: Email Writing for Work and Life
Module 3: Reading Real- World Documents
Module 4: Information Literacy and Evaluating Sources
Module 5: Speech and Media Evaluation
Module 6: Resume Writing
Module 7: Cover Letters and Job Applications
Module 8: Formal Letters and Written Requests
Module 9: AI as a Writing Tool
Module 10: Digital Communication Norms and Professionalism

Recommended Prerequisites

Carnegie Credits Explained: Our Approach vs. Trimester Credits

Carnegie Credit System
Northgate Academy follows the Carnegie Credit system, a widely recognized method of measuring student progress based on instructional hours. A single Carnegie credit reflects approximately 120 hours of coursework, typically completed over a full academic year.

Carnegie Credit vs. Trimester Credit
While Carnegie credits are awarded based on total hours over a year, trimester credits divide the school year into three terms. In a trimester system, students complete courses in shorter, intensive sessions, often earning partial credits (e.g., 0.33 or 0.5 per term). In contrast, Northgate’s use of Carnegie credits ensures students have ample time to engage deeply with the material and develop a well-rounded understanding at a consistent pace.

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Communication Skills

Carnegie Credits Explained: Our Approach vs. Trimester Credits

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