Blog Post 6: Final Reflection

Time really flies, but taking ES2007S this semester has definitely made my semester a fulfilling one. Looking back, I realised I’ve learned a lot in just 13 weeks.

This module helped increase my awareness in many aspects of communication be it verbal or non-verbal. I know that at times my explanations are too fast and they lack clarity, therefore now I will try to slow down and break long sentences to shorter sentences to aid in my explanations. Moreover, I see the importance in paying attention to non-verbal communications in daily conversations and to respond accordingly. Not only am I aware of other’s non-verbal communications but mine as well.

I appreciate that the course taught us many practical and valuable skills such as writing a resume and cover letter, sharpening our skills in being a team player and also providing platforms to speak in front of the audience. I believe all these are crucial elements which will guide us through our career path. I would definitely keep all those comments and feedbacks in mind as they are valuable in the process of learning.

One thing that I regret is not participating in class more often. I’m not a very outspoken person and I don’t really have an opinion all the time. Therefore, speaking up and interacting in class do not occur to me naturally. Nevertheless, I learned that interaction is not about the ‘right’ answer or opinion, but it is really just speaking and exchanging your thoughts to facilitate a discussion.

I realised that blogging for the module is not as simple as our usual informal write ups. This is because we need to us proper English and also to take note of the 7Cs.  It’s good in a way as we are trained how to formulate and write out our thoughts and ideas in a proper manner. In addition, the comments exchanged facilitate interactions as they help us to see things from a different perspective.

Overall, even though the module can be quite intense, it’s really worth the time and effort as not only do I learn the contents covered but also other aspects such as juggling my work, learning to be an effective team player and overcoming the fear in public speaking. It’s a good stretching experience.

Thanks everyone for making this journey an enjoyable one! :)

Blog Post 5: Reflecting on Oral Presentation

At the beginning of this course, I was quite anxious when I think of the oral presentation section. This is because I often feel nervous during previous oral presentations.

As our team had a hard time finding a common free time to practise as a group, our rehearsal was therefore insufficient. Hence, I’m quite worried on the night before and on that morning of the presentation. However, I’m thankful for having good team members who would often calm me down and give me words of encouragement and assurance. 

During the presentation, I felt that I started off quite well; with a smile on my face and with the eye contact I established with the audience. However, later on I started to be inconsistent with my speed and I felt that I was more serious (therefore less smiles) nearing the end of it. I believe this is due to the nervousness that slowly took over me. At the beginning, I think it was the adrenalin rush that helped boost my overall confident appearance, but with the passage of time, I lost control of my calmness and thus stumbled with a few words and also I have to keep referring to my cue cards as I find it hard to recall my speech.

We mainly used Powerpoint slides with pictures. I felt that perhaps I could have used more pictures to give a clearer illustration, as I felt that many were confused with my explanation.

Overall, I felt that the process in preparing is important to give a smooth presentation. Nevertheless, it was a good opportunity to practise speaking in front of an audience.