Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
6EGK057Human Relations and Communication2+0+02307.10.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Pre-School Teaching
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course aims to enable students to: (A1) understand communication as a process and explain human relations through theoretical approaches; (A2) examine interpersonal relationships in their developmental, cultural and gender-related dimensions; (A3) recognize their own communication patterns and develop effective communication skills through practice; (A4) design and deliver a free-topic presentation based on active participation and evaluate their communication behaviour on the basis of evidence by reporting on this experience.
Course Content Elements, process, functions and types of communication (verbal, nonverbal, written); basic communication models; definition and classification of human relations; psychoanalytic, attachment, social, psychological and cognitive theories; interpersonal relationships as a developmental process, communication in the family and at school; factors affecting relationships, gender roles and emotional intelligence; self-monitoring, self-disclosure, communication errors and barriers; active listening and empathy; conflict and conflict resolution, I-language and assertiveness; intercultural communication; voice, diction and body language; designing and delivering a presentation based on active participation and writing a communication report.
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture, question and answer, discussion, drama and role play, pair and group work, skill workshops, team presentations, peer feedback, reflective report writing.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator Asist Prof.Dr. Mehmet Ceylan mehmet.ceylan@hku.edu.tr
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Mehmet Ceylan mehmet.ceylan@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Aytekin, H. (2026). İnsan ilişkileri ve iletişim [Human relations and communication] (13th ed.). Pegem Akademi.
Kaya, A. (Ed.). (2025). İnsan ilişkileri ve iletişim [Human relations and communication] (18th ed.). Pegem Akademi.
TED. (n.d.). The art of meaningful conversation [Playlist]. https://www.ted.com/playlists/211/the_art_of_meaningful_conversa
Treasure, J. (2013). How to speak so that people want to listen [Talk]. TEDGlobal. https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_how_to_speak_so_that_people_want_to_listen
Headlee, C. (2015). 10 ways to have a better conversation [Talk]. TEDxCreativeCoast. https://www.ted.com/talks/celeste_headlee_10_ways_to_have_a_better_conversation
Treasure, J. (2011). 5 ways to listen better [Talk]. TEDGlobal. https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better
Royal Society of Arts. (2013). Brené Brown on empathy [RSA Shorts animation]. https://www.thersa.org/videos/brene-brown-on-empathy
Docter, P., & Del Carmen, R. (Directors). (2015). Inside Out [Film]. Pixar Animation Studios.
Cüceloğlu, D. (2021). İnsan insana [Human to human] (64th ed.). Kronik Kitap.
Ensar, F., & Gündüz, A. (2022). The relationship between pre-service teachers ` psychological resilience and public speaking anxiety. Journal of Mother Tongue Education, 10(1), 266–276. https://doi.org/10.16916/aded.946373
Course Notes Aytekin, H. (2026). İnsan ilişkileri ve iletişim [Human relations and communication] (13th ed.). Pegem Akademi.
Kaya, A. (Ed.). (2025). İnsan ilişkileri ve iletişim [Human relations and communication] (18th ed.). Pegem Akademi.
Supplementary videos, film, book and article, as well as the presentation design form and observation forms, are shared via Google Classroom.

Course Category
Field %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
2
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 2 28
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 2 28
Assignments 1 15 15
Presentation 1 12 12
Mid-terms 1 7 7
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 3 90

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Bilgi 
1 Defines communication as a process and explains its elements, functions, types and basic communication models with examples.
2 Defines and classifies human relations and compares theoretical approaches that explain interpersonal relationships.
3 Explains interpersonal relationships as a developmental process (infancy and childhood, adolescence and adulthood) and explains with examples the effects of parental attitudes and school communication on the child ` s communication pattern.
Beceri 
4 Analyzes, through sample cases, the role of factors affecting human relations, including gender and gender roles, intercultural differences and emotions.
5 Distinguishes appropriate and risky forms of self-disclosure and self-monitoring; identifies barriers in a given communication example and suggests alternative expressions.
6 Uses effective communication skills (active listening, empathy, I-language, assertiveness, questioning, voice and body language) observably in a presentation.
Yetkinlik 
7 Designs and delivers a presentation that ensures the active participation of the audience and analyzes a disagreement experienced in teamwork using conflict resolution approaches.
8 Evaluates their own communication behaviour based on concrete evidence and explains with reasons whether they agree with the peer feedback received.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Course introduction. What is communication? Elements, process and functions of communication Syllabus; Kaya (2025), Ch. 1; Aytekin (2026), Ch. 1. Study questions: Is it possible "not to communicate"? Where is the meaning of a message formed? Syllabus; Kaya (2025), Ch. 1, pp. 2–15; Aytekin (2026), Ch. 1
2 Types of communication: verbal, non-verbal and written communication; basic communication models Weekly reading. Study questions: When verbal messages and body language conflict, which is believed? Do emojis fill the gap of the nonverbal channel in written communication? Aytekin (2026), Ch. 2 and Ch. 4, pp. 46–53; Kaya (2025), Ch. 7, pp. 166–188
3 Definition and classification of human relations; psychoanalytic, attachment and contemporary theoretical approaches Weekly reading. Study questions: What makes a relationship "close"? Is the attachment pattern formed in infancy destiny? Kaya (2025), Ch. 3, pp. 66–80; Aytekin (2026), Ch. 5, pp. 68–86
4 Social, psychological and cognitive theories of interpersonal relations; types of relationships Weekly reading. Study questions: Do we maintain our relationships through a cost-benefit calculation? When does a conversation become "crossed"? Kaya (2025), Ch. 3, pp. 80–94; Aytekin (2026), Ch. 5, pp. 77–85
5 Interpersonal relations as a developmental process: infancy and childhood, adolescence and adulthood; communication in the family and at school Weekly reading. Study questions: How does a parental attitude affect the friendships a child will form later? Why is teacher–parent communication often difficult? Aytekin (2026), Ch. 5, pp. 68–77 and Ch. 9; Kaya (2025), Ch. 11 and Ch. 12
6 Factors affecting human relations; gender, gender roles and interpersonal relations; emotional intelligence Weekly reading. Study questions: Is perception a recording or a construction? Is someone who knows their emotions well necessarily a good communicator? Kaya (2025), Ch. 3, pp. 66–72; Ch. 7, pp. 171–175; Ch. 10, pp. 250–276; optional: Inside Out (2015) film
7 Self-adjustment and self-disclosure in interpersonal relations; communication errors and barriers. Setting presentation topics and Round 0 Weekly reading. Study questions: Is self-disclosure always good? Which communication barrier do you use most? Kaya (2025), Ch. 6; Aytekin (2026), Ch. 3 and Ch. 4, pp. 53–57; syllabus Appendices 4 and 7
8 Midterm week: written exam (weeks 1–7) Review of weeks 1–7 Aytekin (2026); Kaya (2025)
9 Effective communication skills I: active listening and empathy. Presentations (group 1, 2 teams). Skill focus: opening, attracting attention and knowing the audience Weekly reading and presentation design form. Study questions: How does the other person know you are listening? Is saying "I understand" empathy? Kaya (2025), Ch. 2, 4 and 5; Aytekin (2026), Ch. 6; Treasure (2011); RSA/Brown (2013)
10 Interpersonal problems, conflict and conflict-resolution approaches; I-language and assertiveness. Presentations (group 2, 2 teams). Skill focus: responding assertively to objections and unexpected answers Weekly reading. Study questions: Where is the line between being assertive and being harsh? How was the disagreement in the team resolved? Kaya (2025), Ch. 8 and 9; Aytekin (2026), Ch. 4, pp. 57–65
11 Human relations in terms of cross-cultural differences. Presentations (group 3, 2 teams). Skill focus: voice, diction and body language Weekly reading. Study questions: Is body language universal? What would you change if you gave your presentation to an audience from a different culture? Aytekin (2026), Ch. 13 and 8; Kaya (2025), Ch. 7, pp. 171–174 and Ch. 14, pp. 362–372
12 Presentations (group 4, 3 teams). Skill focus: questioning, listening and handling audience responses Presentation design form. Study questions: How do you rescue a question nobody answers? What should be done when an unexpected answer comes? Kaya (2025), Ch. 4, pp. 105–109; Aytekin (2026), Ch. 7, pp. 116–122
13 Presentations (group 5, 2 teams). Skill focus: designing active participation and managing the group Presentation design form. Study questions: Did the activity make the audience think? What can be done with an audience member who does not want to participate? Syllabus Appendix 7; Aytekin (2026), Ch. 7, pp. 116–122
14 Presentations (group 6, 2 teams). Skill focus: closing, summary and receiving feedback Presentation design form. Study questions: Which communication skill changed most this term? Did you reach the goals you set in week 1? Aytekin (2026), Ch. 7, p. 122; syllabus Appendix 6
15 Overall review Preparing the communication report Syllabus Appendix 6
16 Final: submission and evaluation of the communication report (the presentation component was completed in weeks 9–14) Preparing the communication report Syllabus Appendix 6

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14
All 4 3 3 2 3 5 4 4 5 4
In1 3 3
In2 3 3
In3 4 4 2
Sk4 3 4
Sk5 3 3
Sk6 2 3 5
Co7 3 5 5
Co8 3 4

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant