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Descriptive Reflection: Strengths and Challenges in Communication

Josiah Yang
Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering
(Building Services)
15 Communication Road
Singapore 929384

11 September 2017

Ms. Lim Lay Hoon
Lecturer
Singapore Institute of Technology
10 Dover Drive
Singapore 138682

Dear Ms. Lim,

Descriptive Reflection: Strengths and Challenges in Communication

My name is Josiah. I completed my National Service a month ago and I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Architecture. I am currently enrolled in SIT, doing my bachelor's in Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering (Building Services). 

I have always loved speaking and talking to people. Due to my personality types like ENFP and IDSC, I thoroughly enjoy being with, and around people. As I grew up through my childhood in church and school, I was constantly surrounded by people of different personalities, and this taught me how to speak and communicate with a variety of people. 

I also enjoy being the source of joy for people around me. Making people smile is something that I hold close to my heart. A sentence or a phrase is able to affect someone's day for better or for worse and if I have the opportunity to make someone's day better, I would take it.

But also at the same time, this allows many opportunities for insensitivity to come out. People may feel that I am not concerned with how they are feeling or maybe some of them want to be left alone. I want to develop a greater level of empathy and sensitivity to the people around me so that each time I try to make someone's day, it is driven in the right direction.

I hope that this course will be able to help me understand and improve in communicating with the people around me. I would also like to be more confident in speaking and prevent any form of stuttering which would allow me to present fluently and clearly.

Yours Sincerely,

Josiah Yang
Josiah Yang (Mr)
SIE2016/SEM06

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2017 at 2:26 AM

    Well done Josiah on your first blogpost!

    But, maybe you could briefly elaborate on an occasion where you had to talk to people of different personalities. Then, explain how you adapted your way of communication based on your personality (introverted or extroverted?) in order to get along with them?

    You might want to elaborate on the part where you wrote "when you make someone's day, it is driven in the right direction.". Maybe you can explain what you meant by right direction? Examples?

    Overall, good job on your English. Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Josiah YangSeptember 17, 2017 at 8:35 AM

      Thanks a lot Chin Teck. Hope that I will be able to improve on the points that you have mentioned as I go through this course!

      Delete
  2. Joelle KimSeptember 17, 2017 at 12:55 AM

    Hi Josiah,
    It was enjoyable reading your post as it was well expressed.

    I agree that being a source of joy for the people around one can be indeed rewarding but at times may be deemed as insensitive by others. However, do not let your past experiences affect you. There is a time and place for everything so maybe you can think before you speak and learn how to “read the atmosphere”?

    Nonetheless, through this module, I hope that we will be able to improve our communication skills.

    Regards,
    Joelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Josiah YangSeptember 17, 2017 at 8:36 AM

      Thanks for the comment Joelle. I agree with the point that you made and I guess it's all a process of learning what to do and when to do it.

      Delete
  3. MJSeptember 17, 2017 at 5:45 AM

    Hi Josiah,

    It was a joy reading your blog post. It is well written with smooth transition from one point to the next.

    I agree that a sentence or phrase makes a part in making someone's day better or worse. There have been cases where verbal abuse affects someone more than physical abuse. Words hold a lot of power in them and when used positively, can help to brighten someone's day. It is also a known fact that most people feels happy too, when they had helped to play a part in making someone's day better.

    I also agree that in some scenarios, some people may feel that others who are being a source of joy is insensitive. This may apply to scenarios when the person is feeling upset or depressed. They may not need someone who is trying to brighten their day, but instead prefer someone who can relate or understand them, and able to listen to their troubles quietly.

    For your blog post, you may want to include an example or experience of occasions when you felt that you had been deemed as insensitive.

    Overall, I feel that you have met the requirements of the assignment. I look forward to working with you and improve on our communication skills together in the coming classes.

    Regards,
    Mei Jiuen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Josiah YangSeptember 17, 2017 at 8:38 AM

      Hi there Mei Jiuen!

      Thanks so much for the comments. I guess letting people know where I come from will help them better understand my perspective and stand. Including an example would have helped readers like yourself understand the circumstances that I have been in.

      Delete
  4. Jason EngSeptember 17, 2017 at 6:08 AM

    Dear Josiah,

    It was enjoyable reading your post. The post is well written with the details needed to strengthen your point.

    Well and good execution to addressing the assignment. Your content packs a punch and is well expressed using a wide variety of words. I am impressed by the amount of confident you have speaking to people from all walks of life.

    Your writing is really concise, coherent and cohesive. Your post uses expressive words in orderly manner and was well placed together. Your answer is well completed and well written.

    I agree with the statement you made in the post. “…constantly surrounded by people of different personalities, and this taught me how to speak and communicate with a variety of people…” If given the opportunity to be in contact and communicate with others, we would naturally pick up skills in communication. The more types and variety of people we talk to, the more likely we are able to become a better communicator.

    The language used is courteous, you are also clear and accurate in expressing yourself in the post.

    I hope to have the opportunity to work with you throughout the course of my study.

    Regards,

    Eng Sheng Cai
    SIE2016
    Group 6
    Trimester 2017/2018

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Josiah YangSeptember 17, 2017 at 8:40 AM

      Hi Jason!

      Thanks for the encouraging comments. I hope that we can all work together to sharpen each other's communication skills. I'm glad that you enjoyed the post!

      Delete

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