Who Am I as a Communicator?

 

The truth is that for better or worse, you glean quite a bit of information from first impression. (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2009, p. 36). This week was inspection week at my Child Development Center in Altus, OK. This was also my first Air Force inspection, and my boss, and flight Chief was away. I had to communicate to the commander on two programs this week, and I was very skillful in the way I communicated the findings. He is a very intense and a busy man, and everything needs to be communicated in detail, and to the point. This was my first Air Force inspection, and my first meeting with the commander of Altus Air Force Base. I can only hope he understood the findings, and the inspectors were pleased with me, because I was by myself, and handling the programs as needed. What always surprises me is how people at the end of the day understand I love what I do for children, and our military families, and that enough for me. Reasoning being: I did not had to tell them, because of the perception of the very first day.

“Our thoughts and cognitions influence how and what we communicate to others and at the same time influence the way that we interpret the behaviors and messages that others send to us." (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2009, p. 38). I am grateful for this class because I believe it can enable me to go to the next level in my communications to others. In my profession things have to be clear, and all parties most understand what needs to be done. I need to speak clearly, and my message needs to be understood. I do believe I have a little communication anxiety, because when I have to speak before individuals I want them to understand what I am saying, and I always want to give the correct information to whoever I am speaking to. I do realize I have a long way to go in developing great communication skills, and I am willing to learn more.

 

 

References

 

Real Communication chapter 2, "Perceiving the Self and Others" (pp.36, 46–62, beginning with

 

"Cognition: Perceiving Ourselves")

 

 

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION

MAKING CONTACT

          So many times we come in contact with others from other different cultures, whether it’s at work, shopping or school. As we try to communicate with different individuals I sometimes find myself changing to understand them or helping them reach some in the store. I try to meet their needs, and if I need to talk like them I try. If I have to change my tone so they can understand I will, because when you see someone needed a helping hand, and you are able wouldn’t you help? When we were overseas in a different culture most of the people in Japan were very kind because we did not understand a lot of the rules, but they helped my family understand their culture. Learning some of their cultural beliefs helped my family to get alone in the country. Sometimes I see individuals needing help or understanding so I use my knowledge gain of other cultures to help. There are many barriers we can face when communicating with people from other cultures and this is called intercultural communication (Beebe, Beebe & Redmond, 2011). We have to go the extra mile, so we understand others who may be different from us. We have to accept the challenges and break the barrier with effective communication. I do find myself toning my tone down if I can be a help to others.

 

References

 

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to

 

others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

 

Chapter 4, "Interpersonal Communication and Diversity: Adapting to Others" (pp. 85–&

nbsp; 114)

 

 

Sound or No Sound

Sound or No Sound

The episode of “Seinfeld,” is the television show I choose to watch, and it was funny.  It’s nothing like having great friends you can interact with on a daily basis, and to laugh with and about.  They answer one another statements, and it’s a show about nothing, but it was very funny with sound and without. They often use gestures, hands movement, and a lot of facial express, the show really flows. During the non-verbal I was laughing because they are very funny, the individuals have great facial expression. Even when the characters would interact with other people they were very animated with facial expression. I could watch this show every week because it is very funny. The cast of Jerry Seinfeld, George Costanza, Elaine Benes, and Kramer (Cosmo) all of the "Seinfeld Show".

 

My Pastor of Japan

AN EFFECTIVE SPEAKER  

          An effective speaker I love to hear would be Pastor Dave L. Worthy of Okinawa, Japan. He not a very tall man, but when he speaks you can hear, and understand what he is saying. He dresses well and appears in great shape. He knows his audiences because when he speaks we can relate to what he is saying. He speaks clearly, and engages us to think about the subject manner, and ask us to seek more information about the subject, and he gives solid evidence of his subject matters. He also refers textbooks for support of the subject matter. Every time he speaks, he offers individuals an opportunity to ask questions, and it’s not that he thinks he knows everything, but he wants everyone to have an understanding. Sometimes when it is a very large subject matter the will be different speaking parts for a few weeks, and we will have an opportunity to study on our own. When individuals ask questions, he listens, and answers. He has this rule about studying the subject he speaks about for 16 hours or more pre subject matter. The information he gives when he speaks are life changing, and I see the people receive what they need each and every time he speaks. If I could bottle him up and send him around the world for every person to hear I would, he speaks very well of others who have made a differences in his life. I desire to motivate staff, and make a difference in individual’s life.

References

Mt Olive Ministry of Faith

Pastor D. L. Worthy

Okinawa, Japan

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

My blog: http://sstrong82-learningtoteachothers.blogspot.com/

Journeys Are Meant To Be Kept

Journeys Are Meant To Be Kept

I hope our passion as early childhood professionals and the information I have learned throughout this course about diversity, equity, and social justice make a difference in children, as well as families’ lives that come from diverse backgrounds. We should be supportive to families (all) of diversities, and norms, let’s be professionals about what we do. I cannot forget the impact of the staff lives to whom I will come in contact with, as I share the new gain information about diversity, equity, and social justice.   

          One goal I would like to set as an early childhood professional as it is related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice, is the coming together as professionals on a monthly schedule. If I had a question about the field of early childhood I should be able to write my colleagues on a blog. It can help build relationship on a professional level because of common ideas, and passions. I have enjoyed using this blog for every class at Walden, and desire to keep in contact with my new colleagues.

I would like to take this time to say thanks for sharing your stories about what happen to you as children, and how it develop you into the great professionals of enabling other children to develop today. It has been a pleasure to read your stories as well as your comments, and for that I thank you for being a part of my journey with diversity, equity, and social justice. I encourage you to continue as we all grow in the things of early childhood field. One key; “change has to begin with you if you desire to experience change” Strong, S.,( 2013). Can change begin with you?

 

The Egyptian's Family

The Egyptian Family

 

            The Egyptian culture highly valued family life, and treasured children and regarded them as a great blessing. I would embrace this family from Egypt, and invite them to join our families in different events, and activities. Help them with housing, and schools for their children as they become a little westernize. Show them around town as a sponsor, and give support with a map of their new area, and a telephone list of contacts if they need help. I will also make myself helpful by offering any information about activities for the family, and information that could make their stay easy in my country. I will also visit my locate library and read a few books about Egyptian cultures today.

I will also visit the web site to gain information about the culture of Egyptian families ; http://www.touregypt.net/epeople.htm

After gathering all of this information it can benefit both me, and the family because we will be well informed about the area , as well as things to do in the country.

Egyptian

Egyptian populous divided into four cultural groups consisting of Copts, Bedouins, Nubians and Egyptian peasants, or fallahin. Upon closer examination, fallahins are presented basically as farmers living in villages. Perhaps this is a correct and traditional definition of the word fallahin, but it was immediately apparent that this division of cultural groups was out of touch with reality, and showed no feeling for Egypt's true flavor.

Egypt is actually a wonderful and delightful mixture of traditions, with a socioeconomic structure which allows, more and more, a gradient of classes. But one must look, and feel with the heart in order to touch this essence of Egypt.

A considerable amount, if not majority, of Egypt's population now live in larger cities, mostly Cairo and Alexandria. In fact, these two cities dominate the vision of most foreigners. They are vitally important to Egypt's culture, but one should not neglect the many other moderately sized cities. And within these cities there is a virtual kaleidoscope of social stratas. There are doubtless the poor, the recent fallahins come to the city, and the lower echelons of what we will call the commercial or merchant class. They are evident, and plentiful. But these businessmen merge into the middle class, and then upper middle class. More than a few become wealthy.

Egyptians dote on their children, who as they grow up quickly, take on adult duties. The younger ones start by herding sheep and goats. When the boys reach nine or 10, they begin learning how to farm the land that will eventually be theirs. Young girls feed chickens, milk goats and water buffalo (gamoosa), make the dung patties used for fuel, and fetch water. At an early age, they learn to carry loads on their heads; starting with lightweight items such as bread loaves, they graduate to laundry, and then to large clay water jars. Their work gives them a grace of carriage that remains with them throughout their lives.

In Egyptian extended families, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all feel clan obligations, and these ties unite them in good times and bad. If an individual's crops fail, all relatives contribute from their own supplies. If an animal is fatally injured, the fallahin will slaughter it and each family within the clan will buy a portion, thus sharing the meat and contributing to the cost of replacing the animal. The clan elders arbitrate disagreements, even those between husbands and wives, and give opinions that range from farming techniques to religious obligations.

References

http://www.touregypt.net/epeople.htm

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

            My personal side of bias, prejudice, and oppression has to be when I experienced a few people who I thought were friends turned out to be mean people. As a young child you desire to play any children, you just want to play. I can remember as a child we wanted to go play with the neighbor’s children, and were told by the children because you are black you may not come into our yard. This was doing the mid 60’s, and riots were happening throughout the city due to bias, and prejudice. Black Americans were standing up for their rights against whites Americans, and as a child we really did not understand what was going on we just wanted to play. I have witness bias, prejudice, and oppression even in my profession of early childhood. I do not want to call out names, but I have heard individuals in position of hire cruelty talk about others who desire to be hired in a position with children, and if they did not speak a certain way they were not hire even if they answered the interview question well. As a professional I voice my opinion to the hiring manager for her to give them a chance but she would make the final decision. Many times these kinds of things go on behind closed doors, and to listen to how others oppress others because of the color of their skin or how they speak, and where they come from is sad. This lesson has me feeling bad about what I could not control because of others bias, and prejudice. They tried to break us, and make us feel unworthy, but the force (culture) was too strong within the family.

As a child I felt bias, and prejudiced first hand, but because of my family we were not oppressed by any of these action done tensional or intentionally. My family advises us to be careful when other people are concern, so I could relate to the professionals in the media as their parents told them to go for education, and be watchful of other due to differences. You want to protect your children, but make them aware of their surrounding or the real world. It can be ugly out there, but we have to be able to make the difference in people lives with kindness. Can we play together? I have got to continue to change, and make a difference in others’ lives.

 

References

Laureate Education, Inc., (2013)