Speaking: Functional Language C2 - Lesson 3: Mentoring & Coaching Others in Advanced Communication Skills

Speaking: Functional Language C2

Mentoring & Coaching Others in Advanced Communication Skills

Listen to the "Good Feedback" example here.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to diagnose subtle communication errors in others (e.g., in B2/C1 speakers) and provide high-level, constructive feedback using diplomatic and precise meta-language.

From Critic to Coach 👨‍🏫

At the C2 level, your role shifts from just being a good speaker to being a communication leader. This means knowing *how* to give feedback that elevates others, rather than just criticizing them. Compare these two feedback styles.

Blunt Feedback (Unhelpful) 🚫

"You sounded nervous. Your vocabulary was too simple and your presentation was boring."

Constructive Coaching (Helpful) ✅

"That was a solid start. One thing I noticed was that your pacing was a bit rushed, which can come across as nervous. Let's try using strategic pauses to add more impact. Also, we could elevate the vocabulary from 'good' to 'exceptional'."

The Coaching Framework: Diagnose, Frame, Model

A good mentor doesn't just "fix" errors. They guide others to see the errors themselves. Use this framework.

1. Diagnose (Observe)

Listen for the *root cause*, not just the surface error. Is it...?

• ...a prosody issue? (e.g., flat intonation, wrong tonic stress)
• ...a register mismatch? (e.g., using informal slang in a formal speech)
• ...a nuance error? (e.g., using "problem" instead of the softer "challenge")

2. Frame (Give Feedback)

This is the most important part. Use diplomatic "meta-language" (language about language) to give feedback.

• "This is a subtle point, but..."
• "The way that phrase lands on the ear is..."
• "To take this from B2 to C2, we could..."
• "What if we tried to reframe that as...?"

3. Model (Scaffold)

Show them the advanced version and explain *why* it's better. This provides a clear path forward.

• "Listen to the difference..."
• "Notice how if I put the stress on this word..."
• "Let's try that sentence again, but this time, hedge it with..."

Pronunciation Tip for Mentors

🗣️ Using Intonation to Soften Feedback

When giving feedback, your own prosody is a tool. To sound constructive (not critical), use a gentle, rising, or "fall-rise" intonation.

• Blunt (Falling): "Your point was unclear.↘" (Sounds final and harsh)
• Constructive (Fall-Rise): "Your point was... a little unclear...↘↗" (This invites discussion and shows you're being thoughtful, not just critical.)

Practice Your Feedback Skills 🎯

Practice Quiz: Reframe the Feedback

A B2-level colleague gives a presentation. They did okay, but it wasn't C2-level. Choose the *best* way to give them constructive feedback. Click "Check Answers" when done.

1. The Problem: Your colleague said, "It was a very, very big project. We were very, very tired." This use of "very" is too basic.

What is the BEST C2-level feedback?

• A) "You shouldn't use 'very' so much. It's bad."
• B) "Your point was clear. To elevate it, what if we tried replacing 'very big' with a word like 'monumental' or 'extensive'? That might carry more weight."
• C) "It was good, but a C2 speaker would use 'monumental'."

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2. The Problem: Your colleague told a story, but their intonation was flat and robotic. It was hard to listen to.

What is the BEST C2-level feedback?

• A) "You need to fix your intonation. You sounded like a robot."
• B) "That was a good story, but you need to be more emotional."
• C) "I found the content of your story really interesting. I wonder if we could make it even more engaging by adjusting the *prosody*? For example, what's the one word you *really* want the audience to feel in that first sentence?"

Key Meta-Language (Click 🔊)

• Meta-language (Noun) | ພາສາអMeta
  Language used to talk *about* language (e.g., "noun," "intonation," "register").
• Prosody (Noun) | ngữ điệu
  The "music" of speech; the rhythm, stress, and intonation of a language.
• Register (Noun) | កម្រិតនៃការនិយាយ
  The level of formality in language (e.g., formal, informal, academic).
• To Hedge (Verb) | និយាយបញ្ចៀស
  To use cautious or vague language to avoid making a direct statement. (e.g., "It *seems to me*...")
• To Pinpoint (Verb) | កំណត់ឱ្យច្បាស់
  To find or identify something precisely.
• Constructive (Adjective) | mang tính xây dựng
  Serving a useful purpose; tending to build up; helpful.

Your Mission: The Mentor Challenge ⭐

Your mission is to put this framework into practice.

1. Find a 1-2 minute clip of a non-native English speaker (e.g., a B2-level colleague, a TEDx talk, a news interview).
2. Diagnose: Listen carefully. Identify one subtle, high-level area for improvement (e.g., overuse of filler words, flat intonation, register mismatch).
3. Write a short script (3-5 sentences) of how you would give them feedback. You must use the Diagnose, Frame, Model framework.

Example:
(Diagnose: They use "um" and "uh" when nervous.)
(Frame:) "Your analysis was excellent. A subtle tweak to make your delivery sound even more authoritative would be to manage the 'filler words' like 'um' and 'uh' when you transition. (Model:) Notice how if you replace that 'um' with a strategic 2-second pause, it adds weight and gives you a moment to think. Let's try that one more time."