Read Chapter three of West & Turner (2020), the article provided (De Vito (2005) and engage in the Self-Awareness exercise, available under the drop
Self-Awareness
Read Chapter three of West & Turner (2020), the article provided (De Vito (2005) and engage in the Self-Awareness exercise, available under the drop-down menu titled "Assessment Resources".Please use the following questions as a guide (400-500 words):
What is self-concept, and how does it develop?
From the exercise and the readings, what have you learned about yourself and your own self-concept?
How could this new learning be applied to communication within your existing relationships?
Culture and Identity
After reading Chapter two of West & Turner (2020), the article provided (Pease) and watching the provided YouTube clip (all available under "Assessment Resources"), please use the following questions as a guide (400-500 words):
What new points have you learned?
What have you learned about yourself and your identity?
In your own words, what is privilege, and what are some of yours? How do you feel about these?
How might this new understanding influence your communication with others?
Verbal and non-verbal communication
Read Chapter four and five of West & Turner (2020), the article provided (Calero), engage in the exercise and THEN use the following questions as a guide (400-500 words):
What new points did you learn from your reading?
With specific reference to the verbal exercise, what did you discover about your communication style and habits? How do you feel about this?
How might you apply this new learning to improve your communication with others?
Listening blocks
Read Chapter six of West & Turner (2020), together with the two articles provided (McKay, Davis & Fanning, and DeVito), use the following questions as a guide (400-500 words):
Engage in the exercise and then in your own words, what is the difference between real listening and pseudo listening, how does this impact your own personal communication?
Why is it important to understand the difference?
With specific reference to the exercise, what did you learn about yourself?
What changes might you make in your communication with others as a result of this new self-awareness?
In this reflective journal essay I will begin to discuss a journey through various intercultural experiences through self-awareness, culture and identity, verbal and non-verbal communication and listening blocks. I will explain how each class define us as humans and how we contribute to each.
When we know that we are self-aware we are better at understanding ourselves. Therefore, we are able to identify changes we desire to make and recognise our strengths in order to build on them. In addition, Self-awareness is a usually first to goal setting.
According to (Chapter 3 of West, & Turner, L. H. (2020). They explain self-concept is a general thought of individual perceptions of ones conduct abilities and specific characteristics. For example, beliefs such as I am a good friend or I am a kind person are part of an overall self-concept.
Self-concept impacts our perceptions of others feelings about us. Usually, because the expressions from the people we trust, and respect are viewed more than statements from those we do not.
Such as the way we perceive words that are coming from a close friend, or a classmate really encounter the way we approach the situation. In addition, this includes changes within us through interpersonal encounters with others, as well as communications with individuals to help form personal identity. This theory is called the Symbolic Interactionism Theory.(West & Turner, 2018)
The role one plays in a group supplies the responsibility for which he/she manages. It is the successfulness in maintaining that responsibility that will ensure the need for individual. Professionals must act in a trend that identifies with the profession. Overall self-concept includes the overall thinking of who the person thinks he or she is.
From the self-awareness exercise, I have realised that I need to learn how to build confidence within myself such as improving public speaking, decision-making, fear of failure and overall building on believing in myself and rewarding every goal/achievement I have completed without criticising myself and thinking I am not good enough.
As I read (Chapter 3 West, & Turner, L. H. (2020). I notice that I am attending and selecting person reason being that I am a very mindful communicator which means attentive to my experiences in the present moment, without judgment. I focus on my body language and the nonverbal cues I send to others, being aware so I can understand my own needs and the needs of others, and responding respectful and effective.
However, this only occurs when I am not distracted by other things. In addition, I believe that I am also a self-fulfilling prophecy as mentioned in (Chapter 3 West, & Turner, L.H. (2020) self-concept usually provides a route to self-fulfilling prophecies.
These prophecies include self-imposed, which happens when the expectation of an individual influence your behaviour. Self-fulfilling prophecies can lead to several interpersonal situations, from the family to the workplace. When I was young, I used to see my mum work so much for our family, therefore as I grew up, I wanted to follow her example because she inspired me by providing for us as a single parent.
I could apply this new learning to my existing relationship by understanding my personal worldwide view of others and how they encounter by communicating.
Building self-confidence within myself for an effective communication towards others. Check my body language to ensure it is consistent with my words, being open, honest, and firm when communicating. Making sure I am clear with my wordings because at times I get misunderstood which creates self-doubt that allows me to judge myself that I am not good enough of speaking as English is my second language.
Culture is established of norms and ethics that we do not know we have since we learn them as part of growing up in a group that shares them. Individuality includes culture and other personal things such as gender identity, education, religion, sexual orientation, and many others.
Being able to speak a second language is a privilege for me because I grew to understand and experience a different culture than my own and be able to communicate in a multicultural society. Although it was extremely difficult, I was glad that we encounter an understanding of our own communicative strengths and shortcomings.
I have gained an understanding of how we interpret what is culture. Culture is defined as the shared, personal, and learned life experiences of people who have similar goals of values, norms and traditions. This understanding of what is cultured defines who we are when interacting with others and the ability to be aware of others' cultures.
Another point I learned whilst reading the article provided by Bob, (2010). Oppression, village and relations of domination. Undoing privilege: That society will always be stereotyping and prejudiced regarding race, sexuality, age or gender. The reason is I have come across people who have called me names just because of my race and what they have seen in the media regarding gang violence which makes them believe that we are all the same when technically we are not. However, I tend to understand my intercultural sensitivity and focus on the positive.
I have learned that my culture defines who I am as a person because knowing where I come from (Sudanese) shapes my identity, values and integrity. I have learned to have good moral ethics and to always be kind to others, I consider respecting others as the way I would like to be respected. However, at times it does not comply. One thing I have realised about myself is that I want to travel to different countries to explore unique cultural differences around the world. Being able to experience this will make me understand the cultural awareness of others.
When we recognise where our privilege crosses with an individual oppression, will discover our opportunities to make changes.
Privilege is unearned approach or advantages accepted to groups of people being in membership in social group. Privilege can is a mixture of social identities such as religion, age, education, sexuality, race, gender, status and more. Day 3: What Is Privilege?
Privilege is an opportunity or a right that you were born with. Some of my privileges is entering Australia without being able to speak English or understand the language, however as I grew into the environment and the culture, I begin to follow the rules and engage in the language which I found interesting.
Considering I come from a no speaking English background, therefore, speaking another language and understanding different multicultural societies is a privilege. Also, being able to attend church services with different communities and celebrating Christmas and my culture day is a privilege as I grew up into a religious family and being able to pass that along to my daughter is a privilege. Acknowledging the Australian culture and being able to adapt is also a privilege.
In addition, the opportunities we have in Australia is a privilege such as providing education and employment, welfare payments, job seeking and training etc. Being able to be raised in another country other than my own is a privilege as I view two different worlds. This is how I feel about privilege.
This new understanding can contribute by communication with others by being biased and acknowledging that we are all different in our own unique way whether it be culturally or not. I could have a deeper awareness of cultural differences and how they affect our lives.
I could influence my communication with others by engaging in thoughtful conversation with people of other backgrounds is necessary to understanding privilege.
being culturally aware of acknowledging my culture and the cultures of others. Being assertive and using clear words for effective communication. I could ask questions about practices so I could be aware of how to approach conversations without turning them into a misunderstanding.
Communication is the act of interrelating and exchanging words with other people. The two primary forms of communication are verbal and non-verbal. People communicate their thoughts, ideas and feelings through spoken or written through verbal communication. Non-verbal is another method individuals use such as body language, facial expressions, gestures etc. Calero, H. H. (2005). The power of nonverbal communication: how your act is more important than what you say. Silver Lake Pub. In addition, People have heard the paraphrased Maya Angelou quote that people will forget what you said, but they will always remember the way you made them feel? (Maya Angelou: How You Made Them Feel, n.d.)
Regarding the verbal exercise I discovered a lot about my communication style. I tend to use aggressive style such as speaking in loud demanding voice. When I was young, I was not an aggressive style communicator I believe I adapt by influencers, in addition I am more of assertive style communicator as I express my point of view in ways that is clear and straight forward and respecting others. I find that people in my culture are polite but direct in their communication.
By reading (Mckay et al., 2009) I could improve my communication skills with others by the following prepare to be open and honest allowing myself to tune in with the person and have an open ear to listen. By doing that I would give full attention to the person speaking, clarifying uncertain feelings such as what does the person what or need be to do. Being precise about questions I dont have the answers too. Acknowledging the persons feelings and assuring them their feelings are valid and it is okay to feel the way that they are feeling without being judgemental.
It is vital important to develop more aware of your own listening blocks as it prevents you from effective listening regardless of how many communications you encounter. However, perceiving listening blocks will assist to manage individuals when blocking what you are stating.
Pseudo-listening is non- listening that involves attentive in conversation because the listener does not retain much of the information, and real listening involves understanding and internalizing the material.
Pseudo-listening can impact my personal communication with others by a lack of understanding on the listeners part, this could result in confusion or resentful feelings between myself, and others involved. In addition, pseudo can cause others feeling insecure and that their words are disregarded and not acknowledge or heard by the other person. Unfortunately, this can also lead to hurt feelings and lower self-esteem.
Understanding the difference between pseudo listening and real listening is necessary. Pseudo is defined as base level response that does not consider the speakers needs. Whilst real listening requires active engagement with the speaker to comprehend massages and responding directly. Pseudo can lead to misunderstanding, on the other hand real listening provides better
communication and understanding. It is easier to aim for superior listening skills that develop clear and productive conversations.
This exercise was overwhelmed for me as I have learned the two different listening blocks (pseudo listening and real listening). In my personal communication I find myself being a pseudo specially when trying to engage with others through the phone. I was not aware of this until I read Rogers, Carl R. Pseudo Listening Vs True Listening (Differences). Which states that pseudo can lead to misunderstand with others which happened to myself and a friend, now that I am enlighten, I will be more alert and attentive to conversations.
The changes I require to make for an effective communication skill with others is to be aware of how our life experiences, our gender, our race, our social status, our education, our religion, our failures, our fears can affect our ability to listening deeply to the other party. These changes include positive outcome when a negative situation occurs. Improve better decision making, built self-confident as a result, that I can communicate with clarity and intention which allow me to understand others from a perspective way. Making sure my verbal and non-verbal communications are comprehended, being specific and non-judgemental, open and honest and more. This can lead to a better understanding and positive outcome with both parties.
In conclusion the self-awareness allows us to understand things from multiply perspective, such as build great relationships among ourselves. Whereas Culture defines a person's identity, involves their understanding of their own and others identities and shapes the value at home and in surrounding community. In the other hand non-verbal and verbal communication allows us to exchange information, emotions, and thoughts as well as exchanging words without spoken words. As a future youth worker, I would aim to achieve active listening to understand what the young person is communicating by assuring the conversation in a responsive to the way the young persons own communication style language.
References
West, R., & Turner, L. H. (2018). Interpersonal Communication. SAGE Publications.
https://unitedwaysem.org/equity_challenge/day-3-what-is-privilege/Mckay, M., Davis, M., & Fanning, P. (2009). Messages : the communication skills book. New Harbinger Publications.
Knapp, M. L., Hall, J. A., & Horgan, T. G. (2013). Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction. Cengage Learning.
Maya Angelou: How You Made Them Feel. (n.d.). NoteworthyNonsense. https://noteworthynonsense.com/blog/08/2020/Maya-Angelou-How-You-Made-Them-FeelMorreale, S. P., Spitzberg, B. H., & J. Kevin Barge. (2001). Human Communication. Wadsworth Publishing Company.