Communication, confidence and personality development, presentations, group discussion, teamwork, professional email and workplace etiquette.
What you will cover
Communication
confidence
personality development
presentations
group discussion
teamwork
professional email
workplace etiquette
Topic list from the institute's programme record.
Certification
Certificate terms for this programme are confirmed by the institute at admission. Any ADIVAS course-completion certificate is an institute certificate; it is not a university degree, an externally accredited qualification or a vendor certification (such as AWS or Microsoft) unless the institute states so in writing.
Curriculum 0.1 · Draft: written for ADIVAS and awaiting academic review and approval. Topics and weeks may change before your batch starts.
Your skill trail
You move through 4 stations. Each week builds one skill you can show, not just a topic you have heard.
1
Communication and confidence
Listen, speak and present yourself clearly and with growing confidence.
Week 1 Listening and speaking clearly
Week 2 Confidence and personality development
2
Presenting and discussing
Plan presentations and take part in group discussions effectively.
Week 3 Planning and delivering presentations
Week 4 Group discussion
3
Working with others
Collaborate in teams, handle conflict and write professional messages.
Week 5 Teamwork and conflict handling
Week 6 Professional email and messaging
4
Workplace and interview readiness
Follow workplace etiquette and perform well in a mock interview.
Week 7 Workplace etiquette and professionalism
Week 8 Interview readiness
★
Workplace communication portfolio
Your project, reviewed by a trainer.
The ADIVAS mastery ladder: how each skill is recognised
Explored You have seen the idea and tried a first example.
Practising You can do it with hints and keep improving.
Proficient You complete the weekly practical task correctly on your own.
Proven You apply it in a project reviewed by your trainer.
Skill-level tracking is being added to the learner workspace. Your trainer already reviews weekly practical work.
What you will be able to do
Listen actively and speak clearly in conversation, using appropriate tone and body language.
Build confidence and a positive personal presence through goal setting, self-awareness and feedback.
Plan and deliver a short presentation with a clear structure and handle questions.
Take part in a group discussion: start, contribute, disagree politely and summarise.
Work in a team: share tasks, handle conflict and keep commitments.
Write a professional email and chat message with a clear subject, purpose and tone.
Follow workplace etiquette: punctuality, dress, meetings, phone and online behaviour.
Prepare for an interview with a self-introduction, STAR examples and thoughtful questions.
Who it suits
School Students in Classes 9-12 who want to speak with confidence and work well with others.
College College students and graduates preparing for internships, campus interviews and first jobs.
Professional Early-career professionals and people changing roles who want stronger workplace communication.
Prerequisites: Ability to speak and write simple English or Tamil; willingness to take part in role-plays. Tools: Classroom with space for role-plays, Phone or laptop to record practice talks, Presentation software (PowerPoint or LibreOffice Impress), An email account for practice, Feedback sheets provided by the trainer.
Weekly plan
Communication and confidence Weeks 1–2
Week 1: Listening and speaking clearly
Theory
Active listening: attention, paraphrasing, questions
Clear speaking: pace, volume, tone and pauses
Body language and eye contact
Common barriers: noise, assumptions, nervousness
Lab
Pair role-play: one person explains a route from Madurai Periyar bus stand to Meenakshi temple, the other listens and repeats it back; swap roles and record a 1-minute self-introduction.
Homework
Hold a 5-minute conversation with a family member without checking your phone, then note two things you learned by listening.
Deliverable
A recorded 1-minute self-introduction and a listening reflection note.
Weekly checkpoint
Observed paraphrasing exercise scored with a checklist and a short quiz on listening barriers.
You will be able to
Listen actively and speak clearly in conversation, using appropriate tone and body language.
Week 2: Confidence and personality development
Theory
Self-awareness: strengths, areas to improve, values
Growth mindset and handling criticism
Goal setting with short targets
Presence: posture, grooming, positive self-talk
Lab
Create a personal strengths map, then role-play receiving critical feedback from a trainer as a team member would, practising to thank, clarify and respond calmly.
Homework
Set two 4-week goals (for example speak once in every class) and track progress on a simple chart.
Deliverable
A one-page personal development plan with two goals and weekly steps.
Weekly checkpoint
Trainer reviews the plan for specific, measurable goals; peers give one strength feedback each.
You will be able to
Build confidence and a positive personal presence through goal setting, self-awareness and feedback.
Presenting and discussing Weeks 3–4
Week 3: Planning and delivering presentations
Theory
Audience and purpose
Opening, three key points, closing
Slide design: one idea per slide, large text, simple visuals
Voice, gestures and handling nerves
Lab
Prepare a 3-minute talk on a local topic (such as water use in Madurai households) with at most five slides, rehearse in pairs and deliver to the class.
Homework
Revise the talk using peer feedback and record a second version.
Deliverable
A 5-slide deck and a recorded 3-minute presentation.
Weekly checkpoint
Presentation scored for structure, clarity, delivery and slides.
You will be able to
Plan and deliver a short presentation with a clear structure and handle questions.
Week 4: Group discussion
Theory
Roles in a group discussion: initiator, contributor, summariser
Agreeing and disagreeing politely
Using facts and examples instead of volume
Handling dominant and silent members
Lab
Run two mock group discussions of 8 minutes each on topics such as 'Online classes versus classroom learning'; observers record who spoke, how the group moved and who summarised.
Homework
Prepare a fact sheet with three facts and one example on a new topic for next week's discussion.
Deliverable
Observer sheet for one discussion and a personal reflection on contribution quality.
Weekly checkpoint
Participation scored on relevance, listening and tone; quiz on discussion etiquette.
You will be able to
Take part in a group discussion: start, contribute, disagree politely and summarise.
Working with others Weeks 5–6
Week 5: Teamwork and conflict handling
Theory
Team roles and shared goals
Dividing tasks and tracking progress
Causes of conflict and respectful responses
Giving and receiving feedback in a team
Lab
Team task: plan a one-day college event on paper with a budget in rupees. Mid-task, the trainer introduces a conflict scenario (two members disagree on the date) and each team resolves it using a listen, clarify, options, agree approach.
Homework
Write a short account of a past team experience using the situation, action and result structure.
Deliverable
Event plan with task assignments and a conflict-resolution note.
Weekly checkpoint
Peer and trainer scoring on contribution, cooperation and resolution of the conflict.
You will be able to
Work in a team: share tasks, handle conflict and keep commitments.
Common errors: missing attachments, reply-all, vague subjects
Lab
Write three emails: a leave request, a follow-up after an interview and a polite complaint about a delayed delivery; peers rewrite unclear lines and the trainer reviews.
Homework
Rewrite two of your own old messages to be shorter and clearer.
Deliverable
Three polished emails and one chat-message guideline for a team.
Weekly checkpoint
Email rubric on subject line, clarity, tone and correctness.
You will be able to
Write a professional email and chat message with a clear subject, purpose and tone.
Role-play a team meeting with a late joiner, a phone interruption and a missed deadline; participants identify what went well and rewrite the scene with better behaviour.
Homework
Make a weekly time plan and a list of five workplace habits you will practise.
Deliverable
A habits checklist and meeting minutes from the role-play.
Weekly checkpoint
Scenario quiz and observed participation in the role-play.
You will be able to
Follow workplace etiquette: punctuality, dress, meetings, phone and online behaviour.
Week 8: Interview readiness
Theory
Researching the organisation and role
Self-introduction and common questions
STAR examples and honest answers about weaknesses
Questions to ask the interviewer and follow-up email
Lab
Mock interviews in panels of three: each learner is interviewed for 10 minutes for a role chosen from a real advertisement, receives feedback and sends a thank-you email.
Homework
Revise answers after feedback and write a 30-day career development plan.
Deliverable
Self-introduction script, two STAR stories, and a career plan.
Weekly checkpoint
Final mock interview scored with the interview rubric.
You will be able to
Prepare for an interview with a self-introduction, STAR examples and thoughtful questions. Listen actively and speak clearly in conversation, using appropriate tone and body language.
Sample lessons
Week 1
Active listening
Listening is more than keeping quiet while the other person talks. Active listening means giving full attention, showing that you are following with small nods or short responses, checking your understanding by repeating the main points in your own words, and asking a question when something is unclear. It helps you avoid mistakes at work, builds trust and makes the other person feel respected.
1Pay attention
2Paraphrase
3Clarify
4Act and confirm
↻
Listen, repeat, clarify, act.
Step by step
Put your phone away and face the speaker.
Listen for the main message, not only the words.
Paraphrase: 'So you are saying the report is due Friday, not Monday?'
Ask one clarifying question.
Summarise the action you will take.
In real life
A manager tells a new trainee 'Send the file to the client in the evening.' The trainee repeats 'You want it sent after 5 pm today to Mr Kumar, correct?' and finds the manager meant tomorrow evening, avoiding an error.
Worked example
Problem. Your teammate says 'We need the data soon.' How do you apply active listening?
Solution. Paraphrase and clarify: 'By soon, do you mean today before 4 pm? Which data, the sales sheet or the survey?' Then confirm: 'I will send the survey data by 4 pm.'
Common mistakes
Planning your reply while the other person is still speaking.
Assuming you understood without checking.
Try it yourself
In pairs, tell a 1-minute story and have the partner summarise it, then swap.
Write three clarifying questions you might ask when given a vague task.
Week 6
Writing a professional email
A professional email should let the reader understand and act in under a minute. The subject line names the topic or request. The opening greets the reader by name. The first line states the purpose. The body gives only the needed details. A clear action and deadline tell the reader what to do. The closing is polite and ends with your name and contact. A calm, respectful tone matters even when the message is a complaint.
Subject: topic and action
Greeting with name
Purpose in one sentence
Short details
Action and deadline
Polite closing and name
Step by step
Write a subject line that states the topic and action.
Greet the reader by name.
State the purpose in the first sentence.
Add two or three short details with dates or amounts.
State the action and deadline, then close politely with your name.
In real life
A graduate applied for leave with the subject 'Leave' and a long story. The manager had to reply asking for dates. A better email, 'Leave request for 14-15 November', gave the dates, handover and contact in four lines and was approved the same day.
Worked example
Problem. Write a subject and first line for an email asking a vendor about a delayed order of 20 laptop bags (order 4471) due on 10 November.
Solution. Subject: Delayed order 4471: 20 laptop bags due 10 November. First line: 'Dear Mr Selvam, I am writing to ask for the status of order 4471, which was due on 10 November, and to request a new delivery date.'
Common mistakes
Leaving the subject empty or writing only 'Hello'.
Writing in capital letters or in an angry tone.
Try it yourself
Rewrite 'Pls send fast' as a polite request with a deadline.
Write an email asking a teacher for an extension on a project, in under 100 words.
Try the questions
The same skills are asked at three levels: School (Classes 6–12), College and Professional. Switch the level and the language (English or Tamil), and say how sure you are before you check: knowing what you are unsure about is part of learning.
Classes 6–12: everyday examples, no prior knowledge. Practice only. Nothing here is graded or saved.
Question 1 / 4 · Active listening
A friend is telling you about a problem. Which is the best way to listen?
Projects
Workplace communication portfolio
Build a portfolio that shows how you communicate in the situations a new employee faces: an introduction, a short presentation, a team message, a professional email and an interview. Include a reflection on what you improved over eight weeks.
Tasks
Record a self-introduction in the first week and again in the final week.
Deliver a 3-minute presentation with five slides and collect feedback.
Write a team update email about a delayed task, with a clear request and a new date.
Prepare two STAR stories from your own life.
Write a one-page reflection comparing your first and final recordings.
Sample input
Scenario: The college fest poster will be late by two days because the printer is unavailable.
Expected output
An email with a clear subject ('Fest poster delayed to Friday'), a short explanation, the revised date, the help needed and a polite closing.
How it is assessed
Criterion
Weight
Clarity and structure of communication
30%
Presentation and delivery
20%
Professional email quality
20%
Interview preparation (STAR stories)
15%
Reflection and evidence of growth
15%
Stretch challenge: Mentor a junior learner through one role-play and write what you learned about giving feedback.
Team event pitch
In a team of four, plan and pitch a small event for a local school or college (a career talk, a clean-up day or a tech fair), dividing the work and presenting the plan to a panel.
Tasks
Define the goal, audience, date and a budget under ₹10,000.
Assign roles and a simple timeline and agree how updates will be shared.
Prepare a 5-minute pitch where every member speaks.
Answer two panel questions, including one challenge on cost or risk.
Sample input
Goal: a career-awareness talk for 80 Class 11 students; budget ₹8,000.
Expected output
A one-page plan, a 5-minute pitch with all four members speaking and clear answers to panel questions.
How it is assessed
Criterion
Weight
Plan quality and realism
30%
Teamwork and division of work
25%
Pitch delivery
25%
Handling of questions
20%
Stretch challenge: Add a short feedback form for attendees and plan how you would use the responses.
How you are assessed
Each week: a short quiz of scenario questions, one observed role-play or speaking task scored with a checklist, and a short written reflection. Recordings are used for self and peer feedback.
Practical work. Final assessment: a recorded presentation, a group discussion observation, a written email and a mock interview, each scored with the trainer's rubric.
What trainers look for
Weight
Clarity of communication
30%
Teamwork and etiquette in role-plays
25%
Written communication
20%
Interview readiness
15%
Reflection and improvement
10%
Where this can lead
Prepares you for interviews, group discussions and entry-level workplace communication.
Builds the teamwork, writing and presentation habits expected in internships and first jobs.
These describe skills you will build. ADIVAS does not guarantee jobs, placement or salary.
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