Blog Assignment: Evaluations and Surprises

What surprised me the most after looking over the evaluations is that I am considered a people person, which is the contrary to those who really know me. I have always disliked being in the spotlight and being around people I do not know, and so when the evaluations concluded that I was people-oriented that took me off guard and got me curious about how I am people oriented. I also learned from the evaluations that communication affects my relationship and allowed my girlfriend and I to see that I shut down quite frequently and at times do it out of habit. I also learned that nonverbal behaviors also influence how others perceived me and influence how effective I am in communicating with those around me. I hope this course will continue to allow me to grow in insight on how to become a better communicator. I hope that the newfound knowledge that I have will allow me to be better equipped to communicate with the different family dynamics and families of the new generations

Blog Assignment: Communication and Cultural Diversity

As a human being I can admit that at times I find confusing things and people I don’t understand. Through my continued education in the education field I have been using those lessons and strategies taught to better understand those around me, children, families, and even colleagues. Before learning different strategies I would only have basic communication exchange, your name, profession, and small talk.  When communicating with people of different cultures, I would myself getting shy and putting up a block because I did not know how to effectively communicate which made those around me look at me as if I was a mean person. I also found it very difficult to effectively communicate because at times even families would have up this wall and I had no clue how to knock that barrier down.

            The three strategies I learned this week that I feel will better help me in communicating with persons of different cultures are as follows:

·         Recognize my own patterns of nonverbal behavior (2010).

·         Learn as I interact and be willing to adjust my behavior as I learn and resist thinking my culture has all the answers (2011).

·         When something about a family’s practices bothers me, try to look at that practice or behavior through their viewpoint rather than my own (2010).

References

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.  Chapter 4, "Interpersonal Communication and Diversity: Adapting to Others" (pp. 85–114)

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

 "Understanding and Appreciating Cultural Differences" (pp. 36–38)

"Looking at Nonverbal Communication Across Cultures" (pp. 80–81)

Television & Communication

Sound Off: For this blog assignment I chose to watch the “House of Payne” show by Tyler Perry, an American actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, producer, author, and songwriter. On this particular episode there is an older woman who seems to like at the home with her husband and other possible family members. The individuals seem to love each other and from watching the show I can tell that this particular family is the matriarch of this family. I noticed by watching the program that the family loves to laugh but could be serious when need be.

Sound On: Once the sound was turned on I was able to finally put names to the characters and prove that the family was indeed close and care a lot about each other. The patriarch of the family was very silly and most of the family members tried their best to keep him calm and in line most of the show. I believe that if I would have watched a show I was more familiar with then I would have been more spot on with observations and behaviors.

Communication Blog Assignment

As a child and even today there has always been one person that I could always go to in time of need and whenever I needed advice and that person is my great-grandmother Mary Evans. My great-grandmother embodies strength and love. She taught me at an early age to always treat people with respect and to always fight for what I believe in. My great-grandma used her years growing up during segregation as stepping tools in the running and foundation of our family. I have never once heard her use one bad word or raise her voice, and just by being around her calms me.  My family and I know that although my great- grandmother’s voice is always calm and soft the why she speaks; it just commands us all to listen. I find that my great-grandmother’s overall presence allowed her to be effective when communicating with not only the family but others as well. My great-grandmother was and still is an advocate for respect and has always been honest even when times got rough. Although I am still learning and growing as an individual and professional I hope to one day have all the tools to be an effective communicator. As I continue through life and my education I try to embody some glimpse of my great-grandmother’s calming and caring spirit.