Week 3

Week 3

Reflecting on cultural diversity within my life and my surroundings, I don’t think that I communicate any differently with people from different groups of cultures. I am a firm believer that it doesn’t matter your cultural differences, everyone should be treated the same. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. We are all humans with rights regardless of diversity. As an early childhood professional I have the opportunity to model this belief to colleagues, students, and their parents. Based on what I learned this week, three strategies I could use to help communicate more effectively with diverse people or groups are: the Platinum Rule, nonverbal communication, and cultural myopia. The Platinum Rule will help me communicate effectively by helping me become aware that an enlightened communicator needs to consider the other person’s perspective. When communicating, the involved participates need to put themselves in each other’s shoes. People want to feel understood, respected, and cared about. I believe it is not only what you say but also how you say it and what you look like conveying and receiving an intended message.   Nonverbal communication will help me communicate effectively. “You communicate nonverbally when you convey a message without using any words. But you also communicate nonverbally when you use nonverbal behaviors in addition to words: when you smile, frown, or gesture as you speak or when you use a particular tone of volume while talking (Giles & LePoire, 2006)” (O'Hair & Wiemann, 2015, p.94).  I find myself doing this as a teacher and parent. ”Our nonverbal behaviors can send powerful, unintended messages without us having much time to think through them (Capella & Greene, 1982)” (O'Hair & Wiemann, 2015, p.95). Lastly, I think being aware of cultural myopia will help me be an effective communicator by reminding me to be conscious of other cultures and diverse backgrounds. "If we suspend judgment, we can come to understand that what looks wrong from our personal perspective may look right to someone else" (Gonzalez-Mena, 2010, p.36).

References

Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2010). 50 strategies for communicating and working with diverse families. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

O'Hair, D., Friedrich, G. W., & Dixon, L. D. (2011). Strategic communication in business and the professions. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Week 2 Communication Skills

Week 2-Communication Skills

The episode of television that I normally do not watch is the Vikings. My husband has this show recorded. I did watch an episode with the sound turned off and noticed several different communication skills and styles. I think the characters’ relationships seem to be constructed on a hierarchy based on the ways in which they were communicating. The nonverbal communication of passive and submissive behavior of lower ranked characters was evident. As slaves/workers were standing alongside the dinner table, they had their hands behind their backs and no facial expressions. The other characters at the table did not stand that way and had facial expressions. It seems as if some of the women in the episode were submissive too. Not all of the women seemed this way since the Queen was the ruler. The women that I did notice had no facial expressions and stood very still next to the men. Based on the nonverbal behavior I was observing, it seemed as if the characters were feeling intense and passionate for what they believed in and each other. There seemed to be a lot of fighting and sexual interactions in the episode I watched.

                After watching the show with the sound turned off, I watched the same show with the sound turned on. The assumptions I made about the characters and plot based on the nonverbal communication while observing the show without sound seemed to be accurate. The nonverbal communication I believe was effective. The characters were able to get their point across using this communication skill and it was evident to the viewers. The relationships based on hierarchy were very intense, and passionate. My assumptions would not have been any more correct if I had been watching a show I know well, but I would have known more details about why some of the interactions were happening the way they did. It would be interesting to watch a show that I know well but a new episode without sound first to see if I could follow along and understand the plot.

                This activity was another great way of exploring communication. During this assignment, I found how powerful nonverbal communication can truly be. It can tell a story all by itself really! “You communicate nonverbally when you convey a message without using any words. But you also communicate nonverbally when you use nonverbal behaviors in addition to words: when you smile, frown, or gesture as you speak or when you use a particular tone of volume while talking (Giles & LePoire, 2006)” (O'Hair & Wiemann, 2015, p.94) This assignment along with the others has made me much more aware of my own communication style and my interactions with others.

References

O'Hair, D., Friedrich, G. W., & Dixon, L. D. (2011). Strategic communication in business and the professions. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Week 1 Effective Communication

Week 1- Effective Communication

     Reflecting on this week’s resources and assignments of effective and ineffective communication skills, the first person I think of who demonstrates competent communication within a particular context is my mother. She is a first-grade teacher and a mentor to university teacher interns. I have always looked up to her. She is a phenomenal person and professional. She has a passion for children and is respectful of every person she meets regardless of any type of diversity.  I am lucky to teach in the same building as her and have watched her in action. When she communicates she exhibits confidence, intelligence, clear articulation, honesty, states facts in a non-judgmental way, empathizes, and is a good listener.  "Truthfulness, fairness, responsibility, personal integrity, and respect for self and others" (O'Hair & Wiemann, 2015, p. 14) are always her first priorities when communicating with others. This is evident even in tough situations. She tries to put the receiver at ease. She lets families know that she is on their side and they can work as a team to help their children succeed. I have also witnessed interactions between her and university teacher interns. She mentors them as they learn how to become teachers. She teaches them how to communicate too. Our principal strategically places children in her classroom who have demanding parents because he knows she will be able to form a positive, healthy relationship with them. I am thankful I have her to learn from!

References

O'Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J.  (2015). Real communication (3rd. ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.