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Read the passage below. While reading, try to guess what the lecture will be about.
Unconscious Competence
The concept of unconscious competence refers to the final stage of learning when a learner has practiced a new skill so extensively that it becomes natural to them. One feature of unconscious competence is that the learner can use the skill without thinking about it. Thus, the skill becomes "second nature" in that it begins to feel natural to perform this skill. Moreover, with unconscious competence, the learner can use the skill while doing other things. His or her ability to use the skill becomes automatic and does not require significant concentration.
Write down the main idea and key points in note form, using keywords and key phrases only. Restate the passage in your own words.
unconscious – lacking awareness
competence – tthe ability to do something correctly
extensively – in a way that Is very large in amount or degree
automatic – done without thinking
significant – very large or important
Reading:
Now listen to a related lecture. Take notes on important information.
achieve – to reach a certain result or succeed In a task
accomplishment – the completion of a difficult task
struggle – to have problems doing something
simultaneously – at the same time
perfection – a state of being without error or defect
Listening:
View the transcriptM: Now, I'd like to talk about the development of unconscious competence, the end result of learning a new skill so that it becomes natural to you. It becomes so normal that you don't have to think about using it. Let me explain using the example of learning a new instrument-the guitar. When you can play a musical instrument without thinking about it, you have achieved unconscious competence. And that's an accomplishment. If any of you have tried to learn to play a guitar, you'll know that it can be difficult. You have to learn where to put your fingers and how to move them to make music. At first you struggle and need to watch your hands. But as you practice, you develop the skill to play the guitar without looking at your fingers as much. If you continue practicing, you'll be able to play your first song without looking at your fingers at all because you've developed unconscious competence. But there is more: when you've developed unconscious competence with the guitar, you can begin to do other things simultaneously. Let's say you have learned a song to near perfection but you also want to sing while playing. So once you can play that song without thinking about it, you can now put your conscious mind into learning how to sing the lyrics that go along with that song. Thus, the guitar playing becomes automatic, while you concentrate on the singing.
Read and think about the prompt below.
The professor discusses the process of learning to play an instrument. Explain how it illustrates the concept of unconscious competence.
WITHOUT looking at the original reading passage, review your notes from the reading and listening passages. Select the information you think is important.
Reading:
Listening:
Try to fill in the blanks of the sample response below using your notes.
Notes for the Response
- Unconscious competence is doing something automatically.
- Example: learning to play guitar
- Feature 1: can do it without having to concentrate
- Example: do not have to watch fingers any more
- Feature 2: can do other things
- Example: singing and playing at the same time
Deliver your response, including all the facts and using necessary transitions.
Listen to a sample response. Write down any useful expressions that could improve your response.
Reading:
Listening:
The professor talks about unconscious competence, which happens when a skill becomes natural. He uses the example of learning to play guitar. At first you have to look at your fingers. But when you become skilled, you do not have to look anymore, you can just play. This demonstrates the concept introduced by the reading passage that says you can do the skill without thinking. Next, the professor says that you can do other things, like sing, when you have unconscious competence. This supports the claim from the passage that unconscious competence allows you to concentrate on other things.
Now give your response to the prompt again, incorporating useful expressions from the sample, while also paying attention to your pronunciation and intonation. Record your time.
