Reflection =)

Time really flies, we have come to the final blog post for ES2007S. I have really learned a lot from this module and enjoyed the process greatly. My understanding of the values of effective communication has indeed increased since the first blog post. I know how effective communication is applicable in so many areas, in our everyday interaction with people, in academics, job search and also in the workplace. From the written to oral communication, I can say I am equipped with the skills and techniques after taking this module.

Working on the group project has allowed me to hone my communication skill and on building interpersonal relationship. I have gained invaluable friendships in the process. Through the project, I am also able to apply the techniques and skills of written and oral communication that I have learned in class into practice.

This module has also taught me about job search communication. Writing resume and persuasive application letter do not seem so daunting to me now. I understand how practicing effective written communication on our resume and application letter can be that crucial in enabling us to clinch that desired job. In addition, the mock interview and lists of interview questions are indeed useful. I am also able to draft business correspondents and meeting minutes. These skills are indeed very relevant in the future.

Through this module, I understand the complexity of communication better now and appreciate the importance of effective communication more. Able to practice effective communication is indeed an invaluable skill. Overall, I have gained much from this module. I am sure these skills would definitely help me in the workforce which I am going to enter soon.

Elaine's Biodata

I am currently an undergraduate majoring in Chemistry in the Faculty of Science of the National University of Singapore. Wanting to gain global exposure and to broaden my horizon, I went for a Summer Exchange Programme to University of Toronto in Canada.

As a music enthusiast, I joined the concert band in my Secondary School and Junior College. Being the clarinet section leader and quartermaster of the band in Junior College has helped me to hone my leadership and communication skills.

I have several work experiences in the service industry, building on my ability in fostering positive interpersonal relationship.

Research Project Experience

It is indeed a positive learning experience doing the research project with Eugene and Nicholas. Through this project, I have made use of the skills that I have learnt during lessons, such as attending meetings, recording minutes and as well as documenting reports. I have also gained from the knowledge and information obtained while researching on the project regarding the issue of lack of sleep among students.

Doing this project has taught me that one has to be an active listener and be open-minded to others’ suggestions and ideas. Another project mate could have suggested ideas that one has not thought of. This is an important step in building interpersonal relationship as well. Clear communication among us also prevents any misunderstanding. In being a team player, it is important that one cooperates with one another and sticks to deadline set by the group in completing individual task. This helps to prevent any delay in collating everyone’s work. Im glad that we have no problem in doing so. While doing research, it is also important to check the source of information, this is especially so for online research. Usually information from other education institutions and government organizations are more accurate and reliable. Cross-referencing of secondary sources contribute to reliability of the research. In writing the report, adopting the 7 Cs of writing is useful and also getting others to proofread the report indeed uncovered common mistakes that could have gone unnoticed.

With regard to the next team project on oral presentation, I think some principle of effective communication, such as active listening is applicable. In addition, effective oral communication will be especially useful.

No conflict arises in doing the project and everyone was efficient. It is a positive experience doing the project with Eugene and Nicholas.

=)

Evaluating intercultural behavior

During the last school vacation, I went on a summer programme to Toronto. It was indeed an eye-opener for me as the culture between Canada and Singapore was really different. I remembered there was one time we visited a fast food restaurant over there and I asked politely for chili sauce after I noticed that chili sauce was not provided as was the norm in Singapore. The lady at the counter looked confused at what I had just said. I thought she might not have heard clearly what I had said, so I repeated my request slightly louder. Again, she can’t seem to understand. So, this time I said I wanted ‘hot sauce’, hopeful that she might understand. But again, to no avail, then I gave up, feeling a little pissed and annoyed that she cannot understand me after many repetitions. The lady looked apologetic. I returned to my seat with the tray of food without my comfort food, chili sauce. I realized ketchup and mustard seemed to be the only sauce that they ate.

With regard to this incident, I would think it could be a problem of difference in accent or the food culture. Westerners are generally not known to be fans of spicy food. Even the red chili there costs more. They might have been confused over why would anyone asked for chili sauce while I was confused over why would a fast food restaurant not provide any chili sauce. On the other hand, it could also be a problem of accent. I remembered I had to repeat my sentences on various occasions.

This incident showed that when communicating with people of different country and culture, we have to be patient and empathetic. Accents and pronunciation can indeed confuse listeners across culture despite a common language, moreover the difference in our food culture just adds on to the confusion in this situation.

Potential Research Topic

After reading an article about lack of sleep being a common problem among college students in the United States, I wonder if it spells true for NUS students too. In Singapore, official statistic showed that teenagers in Singapore are not getting enough sleep. Results from surveys and polls showed that the problem here was worse than in America. While about 9 per cent of American teenagers (aged 14 to 17) had at least 9 hours of sleep, only 2.6 per cent of Singaporean teenagers did so.

Apparently the importance of sleep is not well appreciated here. In NUS, students falling asleep in lectures are a common sight. How many times have we heard fellow schoolmates around us complaining that they are very tired and lethargic? More often than not, it’s the rushing of lab reports, projects, tutorials and tests the night before. The recommended hours of sleep time for the average adult is seven to eight hours. Not many are aware of the consequences that sleep deprivation can bring. The lack of sleep can in fact affect one’s intellectual performance, alertness, vigilance and many other problems. Hence, I would like to research on the average number of sleep hours that NUS Science undergraduates had per night. Research can include the activities that have occupied students’ sleep hours and their level of awareness about the problems of sleep deprivation. The general research question will be “Are NUS Science undergraduates having enough sleep and are they aware of the associated problems to lack of sleep? ”

A survey is needed to determine the average number of sleep hours that NUS Science undergraduates are having and the activities that have taken up their sleeping time. The latter is important, as it is crucial in identifying the causes and in deciding possible solutions for the problem. Survey can also help to identify students’ degree of awareness on the problems of lack of sleep.

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

A hypothetical case:

X, Y and Z were group mates for a project in a university. X and Y are best friends since Secondary School and are very close to each other. Y and Z knew each other from a previous module that they had taken before last semester. X and Z just got acquainted through Y. As the project required 3 in a group, the trio became group-mates. However, while Y and Z did their tasks well, X did not contribute much to the project. Individual task assigned to X was not completed on time for any meeting arranged beforehand. Therefore, the group often had trouble collating everyone’s work. Y and Z did try to remind X about the tasks she was assigned, but to no avail. Deadline to the project was near and Z could not bear with X anymore. She was annoyed and angered by X’s attitude towards the project. She decided to report to the lecturer about X and informed Y about her decision.

Z’s thought was that it was unfair that X be given full credit for the project when she had not contributed much.

X’s thought was that since Y is her best friend, she would definitely help her in the project and would not mind anything.

Y was troubled and confused. X might be given zero for this project! But X has been her best friend since Secondary School and was afraid that this incident could cause her to lose X’s friendship. However, she understood Z’s feeling and was annoyed by X’s behavior herself too.

What should Y do?

Why developing communication skills are important

We communicate with people from all walks of life everyday, hence developing communication skills are essential. Indeed, many problems or conflict that we experienced can be attributed to poor communication. Although we have been communicating with others since infancy, the transmitting of information to one another is still complex and prone to error. Even a simple communication can in reality be complex. This is due to the wide number of interferences that one can encounter in the communication process. This can happen when people do not know each other well and can also happen when people know each other too well. Perceptual bias indeed can play a crucial role in interfering in the communication process. Other barriers to effective communication can also include language and cultural differences. Often, we will also need to derive meaning from non-verbal cues too. This adds on to the complexity of a communication process.

As such, it is essential that we develop effective communication skills. This is especially important in the workplace where how and what we communicate can have consequences on the company profits and even our own job is at stake. Developing good communication skills will increase the value in us as employees and beneficial to our work experience. We will need to convey the correct intended message and ideas across to prospective employers and clients, both in writing and speaking, to avoid any misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Indeed, how can one be able to persuade successfully without effective communication skills?

Other than communicating in the workplace, good communication skills can be beneficial to inter-personal relationship as well. How many times have we heard that a couple or friends quarreled over some miscommunication? Indeed, poor communication seems to be the root of many conflicts and problems. From the many reasons, it is apparent that developing good communication skills are important.