Kiat, Kaycee L.

Barriers to Listening – Task 1

Give an example of a time when you felt that your message was misunderstood or treated with
shallow attention. How did you know your message had been misunderstood or rejected? What does this
mean you must do as a student of public speaking?

There could be many misunderstandings when you live with your family under a single roof.
There were many times when my parents mistook my reasoning as talking back and being disrespectful.
In order to prove my point and to make them hear my soft voice, I raised my tone, which caused so
much arguments and quarrels thereafter.

It was very evident for me that they misunderstood my message, as they started shouting
unrelated things and diverting the conversation from the real issue - merely because I raised the tone of
my voice. Thus, as a student of public speaking, I must improve the way I communicate with people in
order to avoid further misunderstandings in the future. I must apply, in the most effective and efficient
way possible, the lessons learned in the course and become a better conversationalist.