A Universal Moral Code

I do find myself communicating to people of different cultures in a different way. I may adjust my speech, my tone, and the choice of words.  I have learned in the readings that to be effective in seeking out our “other-oriented” opportunities, we have to become flexible in our communication styles. The best ways to do that are to;

1.     Adapt – meaning to adjust our behavior to accommodate the other person’s differences and expectations. Adapting also means to be sensitive to what the other person is saying, thinking, and doing. People who adapt their behavior to others will have more success in positive communication.

2.    Learn of the world view of other cultures. This would reduce uncertainty when trying to communicate.

3.    Avoid negative judgments.  If an individual from another culture has a practice of doing things that may not be an ordinary practice of my culture, I should not stand in judgment or say that practice is all wrong. For example, it is customary for many folks from The Asian areas of the world to speak softly and not look a person directly in the eye. This behavior is showing respect and humility to another.  In the west, we view that behavior as disrespectful.

All in all, we should learn as we interact (Beebe,Beebe & Redmond) with others. We have to put ourselves in the other person’s mindset and mental position. Being flexible is the best way to have success in communication with those from other cultures.

 References

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

Our assignment was to view a television broadcast with the sound off and observe the communication styles. Then we were to turn the sound on and observe the verbal cues to give clue to the relationship of the characters. I chose a program I do not normally watch called “The New Normal”.

Sound Off

Based on the observation of non-verbal actions of the characters, they related to onaother and they were a family. The child in the situation was having difficulty at school and it looks like she was getting advice from the concerned adults in her life. I saw there were hugs and one on one communication between the child and the adults. In  one of the scenes there was a lot of body language modeled for the child to help her in her school situation. I suppose this child was to act out these body movements to the school children she was having difficulty with and that action would solve her problem.

Sound On

The observation of the episode with the sound on was very much as I had interpreted with the sound off. The child in the episode was surrounded by adults who cared about and they decided to give her assistance when she was confronted with mean girls at school. I did notice that when one solution to the mean girl problem backfired, the child went back to her adult care givers for more advice. This second round of solutions was more radical in handling the mean girl situation which involve curt language a very straight-forward tone of voice and the body movements that I had observed with the sound off.

Conclusion

My final thoughts on this observation assignment is that according to what he have rad from O’Hair and Wiemann, the skill of communication involves all the senses verbal, non-verbal, and cross culturally to deliver a message for understanding and to be understood. A sense of self is greatly factored into communication. As “the self-concept has incredible power to shape your communication with others”( O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012).

 

References

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St.

Welcome Communication

 

 

 

“Everything in me calls on me to teach”    

– Louise Derman Sparks

There is a professor I have become acquainted with while being enrolled here at Walden University, taking the Master of Science in Early childhood Studies courses.  This is a person I would even model my communication style after from time to time

That One such person is Professor Louise Derman- Sparks. I really love how she has such a soothing way about her communication. What she says and the way she says it just draws you in to her and the subject she speaks about.  She presents a pleasant expression on her face when communicating also coupled with wisdom and knowledge in the field of early childhood.  The one thing I must mention is that to me, she exudes tremendous passion when she speaks about the field of early childhood. It is not displayed in a boisterous fashion or a loud openly charismatic way, but it seems to me that it is communicated with love and purposeful intent because she is talking about what God has put in her to do… to love young children and educate them through nurturing their special unique little selves.

 

Louise Derman Sparks Professor Emeritus Pacific Oaks College

Research Areas: Louise Derman-Sparks’ research areas of interest are race and education and multicultural education. Activities & Honors: Louise Derman-Sparks is a long-time human development faculty member at Pacific Oaks College, now Professor Emeritus. Previously, Ms. Derman-Sparks worked with young children and families as an early childhood education teacher and program director. She is the author and co-author of several books, including: Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools for Empowering Young Children, (National Association for the Education of Young Children); Teaching/Learning Anti-Racism: A Developmental Approach (Teachers College Press); In Our Own Way: How Anti-Bias Work Shapes Our Lives and Future Vision, Current Work: Lessons from the Culturally Relevant Anti-Bias Education Leadership Project (Redleaf Press), and numerous articles and book chapters. Her most recent book, co-authored with Dr. Patricia Ramsey, is titled “What If All the Kids are White?” Anti-bias/ Multicultural Education with Young Children and Families, (Teachers College Press, April 2006). Ms. Derman-Sparks speaks, conducts workshops and consults widely throughout the United States and internationally. A former member of the Governing Board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (1998-2002), she currently serves on the National Board of Crossroads Ministry: An Interfaith & Community- Based Anti-Racism Training Organization and on the National Diversity Advisory Council of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Ms. Derman-Sparks is the mother of a son and daughter, Douglass and Holly Sparks, and has been an activist for social justice for 40 years.