BATE SNYTHIA BATE LEARNING DAIRY 1(3)

TOPIC: Intercultural Communication EO301L08 IPM

22nd October 2008

Lesson 1
Reflection: What is my idea of communication and why should I study it?

From my own opinion, communication is the transfer of information from one individual to
another through a particular medium, such as direct dialogue (face to face), telephones,
internet, formal and informal letter writing, television, radio and news papers.
Communication could be verbal or non-verbal and in each case, it requires the use of a
common language understood by both persons involved in communication.
Secondly, in everyday life, we communicate in one way or the other. Sometimes we even
communicate without knowing, by touching someone, laughing very loudly, clapping
hands, twisting the face, throwing slance and even keeping a silence mode, means
something to someone, provided he or she can interprets it according to the manner in
which he/ she perceives the silence. It is in this light that it is very important to inculcate
appropriate communication skills.
I think it is necessary for me to study communication because, of my carrier. I need to
develop my skills in communication as it will help me stand a better chance to move
forward and achieve success in my future career as a prospective project manager.
Learning and developing good communication skills and putting them into practice is a
stepping stone to become a good project manager or project planner in the future to come.

Lesson 2:
Reflection: What are my perceptions about the various students in my class? How do I
perceive myself as a group member? My use of language and what it says about me.

I perceive my mates in a very positive, free and normal perspective. I value and respect
everyone in my class because I believe that each and every one has worth, and mean
something to the public. Because of this personal perception, I decided to feel free and
interact with all my mates as much as I can, and in so doing learn more from them by
exchanging ideas, since I give ears to each ones opinions. I think they are marvelous in
their own individual ways, and in so doing develop good communication skills owing to the
fact that we come from different countries with different cultural backgrounds. On the other
hand, communicating with some of my mates is not easy. Some are not flexible, nor
friendly, and believe so much in their ideas. My perception with these kind of mates
becomes twisted a bit, though I still try to have some positivism about them because I
know it is necessary, in order to make communication possible.
As a group member, I perceive myself as a swift learner and a determined student. This
is because I do not give up until I search to understand the ideas of my friends, and how I
can also contribute so that together we learn and arrive at a response. Group work is
challenging as it keeps me working, creative, advancing and determined. It is very
important as it helps me learn more from others and develop new ideas and skills, which in
turn promotes my communication tendencies. In fact, I feel wonderful when I am inventive
in a group. Being in a group is extremely advantageous when it comes to management,
communication, and the social aspects of life. It increase my worth, ego, mentality and
personality, mostly as a good participant in the group. It gives me a better evaluation of my
communication skills as team work requires a lot of cooperation between team members.
Normally communication is only successful unless a common language is used amongst
the individual concerned. Therefore, I prefer to communicate in the most possible simple
manner with the use of a language that I quite know will be understood by everybody
involved in the communication. This simple style of communication of mine makes people
perceive me mostly as a simple and fluent speaker. And most often I realize that I am
easily understood by a great majority of people.

Lesson 3
Reflection: Incidents of non-verbal communication and the effect it had on the
conversation at hand.
Non-verbal communication involves the use of body language, signs, symbols or writings
to communicate. The following incidents of non-verbal communication in which I have
been involved include;
- My first boy friend had a special way of calling me out of my parental home at
certain hours of the night during my early days in secondary school, when I use to
be around the ages of twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen. He always did that by
tossing his fingers loudly outside my home, and close to my room window, so that
only I alone could understand the fact that he needed me out of the house for a
date in the night.
- Secondly I had a girl friend in the university with whom I sometimes use signs like
touching her thumb which means “stand up”, slapping her hips which means “sit
down”, smiling which means “her points are considered by me”, clapping twice
which means “let’s go out of here”, and so many others. We did used hands and
fingers one day until our class master noticed us and asked us to stand up for about
fifteen minutes before sitting down. He perceived us as disturbing in class. He was
also fast to have understood that we were in some form of communication among
ourselves. Later he tried to inquire what our conversation was all, and when we told
him, he burst in to laughter.
So I have been fun of communicating non-verbally and this has really affected my
conversation at hand in such a way that many of my mates in class do not understand me
at times. Most often when I feel reluctant to talk to someone, I go by non-verbal form, and
this attitude has imposed understanding in many others in my class. I make use of eye
contacts, body language, facial expression and signs

Lesson 4
Reflection: My Relationships

Relationships in generally are very useful as far as communication skills are concerned.
Taking in to cognizance my relationships, I am proud to say that I have learned a lot of
communication styles, such as, ways of standing, sitting, talking, choice of words, and
written. I have today developed many accent and expressions, thanks to my relationships.
In a nut shell, my communication tendencies have developed and will develop more
because of my relationships. To crown it all, my relationship mean a lot to me, as it affects
me both positively and negatively.

Lesson 5
Reflection: My role in group work.

As earlier said, group work is a very important manner of learning. My role in group work
improves my IQ and develops my capacity of creating and sharing of ideas with others.
Group work is thought stimulating, as it requires me to think well before talking. It makes it
possible for me to have self assessment, whether I am going wrong or right. It is very
challenging since it stimulates me to work harder and contribute effectively to the benefit of
myself and others in the group.
It gives me the eagerness to occupy a more vibrant role in group work and even in the
society. My role in group work trains me to become not only a leader, but a successful one
of course, who knows how to communicate to the people out there.

Lesson 6
Reflection: My thoughts on public speaking.

Public speaking to me is a very challenging and crucial aspect of communication. It

concerns the public and I, and requires that I speak perfectly for people to understand.
Usually, public speaking has been difficult to me due to some self defaults such as; fear,
panicking, and lack of confidence. But as a prospective project manager, I have come to
realize that I cannot do without talking to the public. The public will always need me to
express myself in detail as to what concerns projects. Due to this, my thought about public
speaking is personally acceptable. However public speaking is a detail and well organized
formal means of communication, usually involving the sharing of an idea to the audience
or to inform the audience about something they have not heard or probably heard and
need to know more.
Therefore it requires adequate preparation, self confidence and good verbal and non-
verbal communication skills that will impress the audience.
I personally like to develop my skills in public communication.

Lesson 7
Reflection: An overview of the course.

So far, I have been greatly impressed with the manner in which this course has
enlightened my scope concerning communication, and how to overcome certain difficulties
when communicating. The lessons in this course are very thoughtful. I have realized some
improvements in my skills of communication and will try to keep them up. It is a very
important module.
My first presentation with Anzelika was not the best because I was nervous and a little
not confident about myself. But after the practices on communication and with the last
presentation, I felt more confident and more impressed with my presentation skills in public
communication as opposed to my first presentation.
Unfortunately, I was absent during the presentation on the 14 th October, without which I
could have stand the better chance to have had evaluate the evolution of my
communication skills, in terms of talking more fluently, courageously, and with some
confidence. I was absent on that day because of ill health, of which I feel better now.
Personally, the general remark I will make, is the simplicity and fluency in the manner of
teaching of our teacher Krystal. Krystal teaching ability and pattern has really made me to
understand the course because she teaches with so many illustrations like inserting videos
for practical view, how to use paper without power point slits. She explains each topic very
well, and teaches with a lot of encouragement on how nervousness during presentations
can be overcome. .Thus, I can perceive some good improvement in my communication
tendencies, for example, the way I introduce myself now in class, the way I discuss boldly
with friends these days, tell me how I can now also express myself better in public. I am
grateful.
Much thanks to you Krystal.