Communication Skills: Language, Nonverbal, Listening

• What do you think the characters’ relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?

I watched the show “Last man standing”. Even though I have heard that the show was very funny when it was mute I did not feel it as a funny show. I figured that the couple was husband and wife, but I assumed they were not getting along as a family. I thought the young girls were daughters. I thought the dad worked for a store. The way the things were in the store it was clear to me that it was a place for the outdoor people. I would not have figured out the relationships between the children. Facial expressions, body language as well as the couple’s way of behavior among themselves were the reasons for me to understand that they are the man and the woman of the household.

• What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing?

There were plenty of facial expressions shown. They had gestures, movements of body, and plenty of facial expressions clearly showing how they were feeling. Based on the nonverbal communication it was hard for me to get any ideas on the subject matter. There was one girl presenting very frustrated or angry expressions and gestures.

• What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?

The male (I assumed that was the father) was working on fixing a gun. My assumption was that the mother and the father were arguing about keeping the weapon in the house.  My interpretation of the communications was that the total plot was on the subject of weapon safety, or having weapons in the house. I thought that they were arguing about it. When I got to listen to the conversations I understood how funny the show was and how wrong some of my assumptions were. There was an argument about the gun but most of the show was based on the irresponsible behavior of the second child of the family.

• Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?

I am a person who believes that in order to enjoy a show, I should be watching the show from the very first day of it. It does not matter how great the critics are about a particular show there is no chance of me catching up with the show. So I do believe that if I have been watching the show then I would have been able to make better assumptions regarding the plot of the show.  Without having the basic knowledge and understanding of a particular matter the assumptions that we make could be wrong and there would be horrible consequences due to that.

• Write about your experience in your blog, including what you learned about communication from this experience and insights or “aha” moments you believe would be helpful to your colleagues.

When I read this assignment I thought of what goes in our classroom these days. I have a newly enrolled three year old child who does not speak English at all. Not only the child, but the parent does not speak English language as well. During the first week of the school, the mother stayed and watched the classroom through the two way mirror with a staff member or a relative to help translate her questions. Even though she could hear what is going on in the classroom she could not understand it due to the language barrier. I have a parent volunteer mostly in the room that is able to help with the translations in the classroom. She was a great help for this child.  For the families who prefer translation, our building administrative staff or teaching staff is available for translations. Even though it is hard to believe the little girl who had a very hard time being away from mommy for the first few days, adjusting to the classroom from the second week on. After asking plenty of questions and watching the classroom for a week the parent is also feeling comfortable enough to send her child on the school bus now. I tried my best to help the parent and the child feel welcome to our program. I make sure that the parent understands the importance of keeping up with their first language while the child is learning English as her second language. Without the understanding of what is going on in the classroom, I do not believe that particular parent would have sent her child to the program on the bus. Mother watching the classroom through the two way mirror without a translator to explain what is happening would have been similar to my attempt of watching a voiceless show on television that I have not seen before.