Friday, November 7, 2008

#7 - Final Reflection

At the beginning of this module, my level of understanding for effective communication revolved mainly around intergroup communication. It was a one-sided perspective and I must admit that I wasn’t sure of what I would bring back from this course. However, I am extremely glad to have learnt many valuable and interesting forms of communication through ES2007S.

The most relevant topic that has benefitted me has to be Fostering Intercultural Communication. I will be going on a Student Exchange Programme (SEP) to Hawaii next semester and what I have learnt in this module had made me more aware of the different concepts of time and appropriate ethical behaviour in different countries. An improved level of cultural awareness has even influenced the way I correspond with the staff from the Hawaiian university as we liaise on official documents and housing.

More recently, the classes on Job Search Communication has also taught me the importance of choosing the right job for me. It is extremely crucial to apply for a job that suits your passion and character so as to enjoy working with colleagues. I have acquired essential skills on preparing (eg. Smart dressing, reviewing of possible interview questions) and performing confidently at job interviews. With this, I feel much better equipped to enter the workforce upon graduation.

Finally, the issue of being an effective team player is as pertinent as ever. The group research project enabled me to practice what I have learnt about active listening and non-verbal communication cues. Through this journey, I am thankful for having project mates that are easy to work with, and having an opportunity to make new friends in class with the occasional group discussions. The social interaction provided in this module certainly makes it stand-out from the usual Science modules.