3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading that has not already been discussed during this discussion week that you found useful or interesting, and discuss it.
The text talks about nine barriers for active listening. Out of those nine barriers, I found the concept of or faking attention interesting. It just means while communicating with someone, to pretend to listen. This happens in many communication situations; it might be because we don’t know how to get out of the conversation, we are not familiar with the subject matter, we are afraid of hurting someone's feelings or offending them; or because we are just bored about the subject. For instance, people get offended when they are communicating with someone and they are not given full attention; therefore one might pretend to listen or give them fake attention because he or she is afraid of hurting their feelings. Overall, most of the active listening barriers are also the basis for pseudolistening.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Week 9 Question 2
2). Give a personal example where you have had selective attention. Why do you think that is? Is there a way you were able to overcome it?
Most of the time, I have had selective attention on a social gatherings; where I am hanging out with group of friends and/or families. Many of us, on this kind of gatherings, while the sounds of people conversing, laughing, shouting, and the music playing, we struggle to have a meaningful conversation with the few people attending. I recall one time where I had selective attention. I was in this family party trying to have a meaningful discussion with a number of individuals and trying to hear what the other person is saying which by itself a pain. All of a sudden, from across the room, I hear my name mentioned. Immediately, my attention is shifted to the direction I heard my name and started to listen in.The reason is that “…we have learned to pay attention to those stimuli that are familiar to us and that have a particular significance for us.” In this case, hearing my name had some significance. When my name is mentioned, I automatically assumed it was important to overhear it. While I pretended to have my attention to the conversation I had with circle of individuals, I was able to figure out what they were talking about. The only way I was able to overcome it was by finding out the context or the whole conversation and disregarding it.
Most of the time, I have had selective attention on a social gatherings; where I am hanging out with group of friends and/or families. Many of us, on this kind of gatherings, while the sounds of people conversing, laughing, shouting, and the music playing, we struggle to have a meaningful conversation with the few people attending. I recall one time where I had selective attention. I was in this family party trying to have a meaningful discussion with a number of individuals and trying to hear what the other person is saying which by itself a pain. All of a sudden, from across the room, I hear my name mentioned. Immediately, my attention is shifted to the direction I heard my name and started to listen in.The reason is that “…we have learned to pay attention to those stimuli that are familiar to us and that have a particular significance for us.” In this case, hearing my name had some significance. When my name is mentioned, I automatically assumed it was important to overhear it. While I pretended to have my attention to the conversation I had with circle of individuals, I was able to figure out what they were talking about. The only way I was able to overcome it was by finding out the context or the whole conversation and disregarding it.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Week 9 Question 1
1). Think of a recent situation in which you found listening difficult. Which one (or more) of the four phases presented the most difficulty for you? Why? How could this have been overcome?
A recent situation I can think of in which I found listening difficult was a few days ago in one of my class. While well-known talkers in my class chatting about the latest NCAA (basketball), my instructor was talking about a less-interesting part of the subject. In this situation, out of the four components of listening, sensing or hearing the message was the most difficult for me. I was listening the sounds that are coming out of my instructor’s mouth; however I was not hearing the message. The reason is that the topic (basketball) was very appealing to me, than my instructor’s topic. Since, sensing is “a voluntary act whereby we chose certain sounds and noises to pay attention to, while avoiding others,” I must give my full attention to those sounds that are coming from the instructor’s mouth and avoid the disruption from others. A good technique for avoiding or overcoming with kind of distractions during class is to sit in the front, or I should choose to sit away from these classmates who bring up topics that are distractive.
A recent situation I can think of in which I found listening difficult was a few days ago in one of my class. While well-known talkers in my class chatting about the latest NCAA (basketball), my instructor was talking about a less-interesting part of the subject. In this situation, out of the four components of listening, sensing or hearing the message was the most difficult for me. I was listening the sounds that are coming out of my instructor’s mouth; however I was not hearing the message. The reason is that the topic (basketball) was very appealing to me, than my instructor’s topic. Since, sensing is “a voluntary act whereby we chose certain sounds and noises to pay attention to, while avoiding others,” I must give my full attention to those sounds that are coming from the instructor’s mouth and avoid the disruption from others. A good technique for avoiding or overcoming with kind of distractions during class is to sit in the front, or I should choose to sit away from these classmates who bring up topics that are distractive.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Week 7 Question 3
3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading, that has not already been discussed this week, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.
I found the concept of paralanguage to be fascinating. It is a type of nonverbal communication, in which “the meaning that is perceived along with the actual words used to deliver a message.” This is not what you say, but how you say it. On the whole, it is using a vocal inflection by means of stretching the same words and using different tone, pitch, rate, vocal qualities, pauses, and silence.
If we decide to talk about tone, it is not the words one chooses, but the manner in which he or she choose to say it. When we were little kids, we probably often raised our voice to express anger or frustration. For example, when I was a child, I would ask my parents’ permission to go out to my friends and if my parents said no. I would say “fine!” Then my parents often said “don’t take that tone with me Mr.!” the reason is not the word, but the way I’d say it. It was very disrespectful to talk to my parents like that; transmitting a message that says “I am angry or frustrated at them.”
I found the concept of paralanguage to be fascinating. It is a type of nonverbal communication, in which “the meaning that is perceived along with the actual words used to deliver a message.” This is not what you say, but how you say it. On the whole, it is using a vocal inflection by means of stretching the same words and using different tone, pitch, rate, vocal qualities, pauses, and silence.
If we decide to talk about tone, it is not the words one chooses, but the manner in which he or she choose to say it. When we were little kids, we probably often raised our voice to express anger or frustration. For example, when I was a child, I would ask my parents’ permission to go out to my friends and if my parents said no. I would say “fine!” Then my parents often said “don’t take that tone with me Mr.!” the reason is not the word, but the way I’d say it. It was very disrespectful to talk to my parents like that; transmitting a message that says “I am angry or frustrated at them.”
Week 7 Question 2
2). Explain proxemics and chronemics. Are there universal rules for all cultures regarding these concepts? Give personal examples if possible. Give examples of personal experience in other cultures regarding these two concepts.
Proxemics is the study of how people use the physical space. It is “the ways we structure and use and are affected by space constitutes proximity.” Depending on the different setting and the culture the use of space varies. For example, in one African culture when people gather in the church women and men does not seat at the same raw. The physical space is divided in to two between genders.
Chronemics is the study of the use of time. This too, it very much varies in the different setting and across cultures. The use of time could affect many aspect of the nonverbal communication. It affects the willingness to wait, punctuality, the willingness to listen for long or short period of time. For instance, in many European cultures, time is a very sensitive factor in one’s daily life; if a meeting is scheduled at a certain time, all parties involved are expected to be “on time” or punctual, on the other hand, in the culture I came from, being late is customary.
Proxemics is the study of how people use the physical space. It is “the ways we structure and use and are affected by space constitutes proximity.” Depending on the different setting and the culture the use of space varies. For example, in one African culture when people gather in the church women and men does not seat at the same raw. The physical space is divided in to two between genders.
Chronemics is the study of the use of time. This too, it very much varies in the different setting and across cultures. The use of time could affect many aspect of the nonverbal communication. It affects the willingness to wait, punctuality, the willingness to listen for long or short period of time. For instance, in many European cultures, time is a very sensitive factor in one’s daily life; if a meeting is scheduled at a certain time, all parties involved are expected to be “on time” or punctual, on the other hand, in the culture I came from, being late is customary.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Week 7 Question 1
1). Return to the eight principles of nonverbal communication. Pick two principles, and provide new examples of how they operate in a group or team.
I must say that this chapter, “Verbal and Nonverbal Communication,” is one of my favorite chapters thus far. From the eight principles of nonverbal communication, the two principles I picked are “It is more likely to be believed than verbal communication” and “Cultural norms and expectations guide the group.”
1.In my opinion, it is only natural for people to pay attention on what we do than what we say; thus our actions speaks more for us that our talk. For instance, if I invite you to my house for a dinner and I cook my favorite dish, I ask you how it is after you take your first bite and you say “man it is really good!” and I see in your facial display an unpleasant look, I am more likely to believe your facial communication than your word.
2.Having been exposed to many different cultures, I relate to the principal that “Cultural norms and expectations guide the group.” In the culture that I grow up in, when a group or member of group engaged in conversation with his or her superiors, he or she shows respect by not looking straight on the eye. Whereas, in western culture it could be interpreted as guilt or not having confidence.
I must say that this chapter, “Verbal and Nonverbal Communication,” is one of my favorite chapters thus far. From the eight principles of nonverbal communication, the two principles I picked are “It is more likely to be believed than verbal communication” and “Cultural norms and expectations guide the group.”
1.In my opinion, it is only natural for people to pay attention on what we do than what we say; thus our actions speaks more for us that our talk. For instance, if I invite you to my house for a dinner and I cook my favorite dish, I ask you how it is after you take your first bite and you say “man it is really good!” and I see in your facial display an unpleasant look, I am more likely to believe your facial communication than your word.
2.Having been exposed to many different cultures, I relate to the principal that “Cultural norms and expectations guide the group.” In the culture that I grow up in, when a group or member of group engaged in conversation with his or her superiors, he or she shows respect by not looking straight on the eye. Whereas, in western culture it could be interpreted as guilt or not having confidence.
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