This paper reflects on a student's evolving understanding of literacy before and after completing a formal literacy course. Initially, the student defined literacy as the ability to write correctly, think before speaking, and comprehend written material. After completing the course, the student's definition expanded to include proper grammar execution, correct enunciation, and professional communication standards. The paper then connects these expanded literacy skills to practical applications in business management, including professional presentations, career development, staff training, and product development and presentation. The student argues that literacy skills are essential tools for any aspiring business manager.
My understanding of literacy before taking the literacy course was shaped by three core ideas: the ability to write correctly, the ability to think before speaking, and the ability to read and comprehend.
Writing correctly was perceived as the ability to put content on paper using proper grammar.
Thinking before speaking meant contemplating the consequences of one's words before saying them aloud.
Reading and comprehension referred to the capacity to take up written material, read it, and understand exactly what it was communicating. These three perceptions formed the foundation of my understanding of literacy before the course.
After completing the full literacy course, my perception of literacy underwent significant changes.
First, using correct grammar was highlighted as a central component of literacy—not merely writing something down, but ensuring that the grammar itself was accurate throughout.
Second, enunciating correctly was identified as the ability to speak and pronounce words as they should be spoken. The course clarified that proper enunciation is more important than simply thinking before speaking or speaking at all.
Third, the execution of grammar emerged as another vital element. Proper grammar execution helps prevent the distortion of a message during communication that can result from an inability to apply grammatical rules as intended (Jamea Paul G., 2014).
These lessons reshaped my initial perspective on literacy and underscored its significance for my Business Management major.
Literacy is instrumental in the field of business management and applies directly in the following areas.
Professional presentation: The business management process involves numerous presentations. Contemporary presentations require not only spoken language but also clearly written slides projected for an audience. This means that beyond using language well, a professional must follow grammatical rules and enunciate correctly. Failure to do so risks losing the audience's interest or undermining the intended impact of the presentation.
"Using literacy skills to develop and deliver training"
"Literacy's role across the product development lifecycle"
Education Development Center Inc. (2014). What is Literacy. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from
Jamea Paul G. (2014). What is Literacy. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from
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