Post #6: To speak, listen and express

A final reflection on ES2007S

It is hard to fathom that the semester has already come to an end. Over the past 13 weeks, we have had plenty of opportunities to learn and practice a myriad of communication skills – things that were both known and new to us. But the over arching learning point for me would be appreciating the difference between the following:

Talk - Speak
Hear - Listen
Write - Express

At first glance, the communication techniques in both columns seem identical. However,the left column lacks one key element that the right one possesses – being aware of the party(s) involved and their understanding of your message. Yet, it is a delicate balance between appealing to your audience and being sincere about your motivations and message.

We practised this in almost every activity and I realise that for it to become natural behaviour, we must consciously put these skills to use in our everyday lives. I’ll admit that before taking this module, I considered communication workshops to be silly and useless. The resume writing and interview components of the module were what had initially attracted me. But through ES20007S, I have been able to identify many areas of communication that I can improve on. One example of this is public speaking – be it a speech or presentation.

I usually don’t write speech texts for my presentations, preferring instead to speak based on an outline. But having done one for my oral presentation, I find that it allows me to better analyse the tone and language used. Moreover, when working with a group, it prepares my team members for what I’m planning to say and vice versa. This is definitely something I will practice in the future.

Though the module is very helpful, I would recommend to future students to only take it if they have a relatively light semester. Taking 6 modules, this semester was really tight for me. And it was hard keeping up with all the assignments. But the module also is an avenue to interact closely with students outside one’s own major. In my first blog post, I had mentioned that I hoped to build on skills that will help me beyond just academia and enhance my interactions with my peers. I believe all of us have learnt things, both about ourselves and our classmates, that has made these past weeks an enriching experience for all.

It was nice getting to know all of you. Ms Lim, thank you for creating a relaxed and open environment for us to participate in. To all the graduating students, congratulations and good luck with the job search! And the rest of you, good luck with the exams and I hope to see you all around school.=]