Communication is Not Always Straightforward

In this course, we are learning, communication is not always straightforward. Everyone, at some time or another, makes assumptions based on messages communicated through body language and facial expressions. For this week’s assignment, I watched an episode of a television show I wouldn’t normally watch with the sound turned off focusing on characters’ relationships and ways in which they are communicating and then again with the sound on. That show was Dora and Friends: Into the City “Kate Gives Puppets a Hand” (Gifford & Valdes, 2016).  The irony of this assignment is that we often require our son to watch his shows with no sound because he likes to play on the computer at the same time.

For the most part, nonverbal behavior I observed included loads of hand motions to imply togetherness. When characters are laughing, the shoulders move up while the head moves down in a repetitive way. The giant in the episode shows a scowling facial expression. The townspeople show fear through wide eyes and rounded mouths. I found it interesting that the giant seemed afraid of a butterfly shooing it with his hands and looking to shy away but then stomping his feet when it would not move.

Based on the characters nonverbal interactions, I assumed that the characters and plot were involved in a Jack and the Beanstalk/Fairytale type story about a giant terrorizing the citizens of a small town. Once watching with the sound, I learn that In Puppetland, Dora, Kate, Pablo and Sir Jim, the brave knight, rush to warn the royal villagers of el Gigante’s arrival.

Though I do not watch Dora and Friends with my son much, the storylines are typical of shows written for children with a problem that is presented and then solved by show’s end allowing viewers a chance to interact through choices and songs.

References

Gifford, C. and Valdes, V. (2016). Dora and friends into the city ! Kate gives puppets a hand. Retrieved from http://www.nickjr.com/dora-and-friends/videos/kate-gives-puppets-a-hand-s2-ep210-full-episode/

Competent Communicator Demonstrator

My husband Steven demonstrates competent communication within the context of customer service (30+ years of restaurant employment at every level) and human behavior. My husband meets no strangers and can talk to anyone about anything.  He fancies himself a comic genius, too, which makes me LOL every time I think of the idea.

He exhibits behaviors that indeeds make him an effective communicator.  He is succinct in his own words and truly listens to what the other speaker is stating. Upon first meeting him, people think he is quiet and mean but his persona is purposeful.  He takes time to gauge atmosphere.

 

I definitely want to model my own communication behaviors after my husband’s. He often tells me that even though I can relate to what the other person is saying and may have a similar story, I need to limit sharing that fact because people began to think that I only know how to talk about me.  I should allow people to have their own moment understanding that every conversation is not an opportunity to “share”. Sometimes people just need you to listen.