Saturday 20 April 2013

Final Reflection


ES2007 is one of the most interesting, enjoyable and practical module that I had taken so far. I see every ES2007 class as a platform for me to make mistakes, get timely feedback and learn from those mistakes. I value every learning opportunity given to me and constantly seek to improve myself, in a hope of being a more effective and confident speaker. In the process of it all, I've gained several insights of myself as an individual, as well as a speaker. I give Brad the credit for making an effort to conduct every lesson in the most enriching and interesting way possible.

Before taking this module, I never deem non-verbal communication and body language to be essential features for any oral presentation or speech. When I was assigned to give presentations during junior college, I tend to focus more on the content and the delivery rather than the non-verbal. However, my whole perspective about oral presentation changed after taking this module.  I've learnt that in any presentation, non-verbal is equally as essential as the verbal. Take for instance; eye contact, the most fundamental non-verbal communication required for any presentation. In the past, eye contact was something that I would try to avoid when presenting in front of a large group of people. The fear of awkwardness and intimidation deterred me from establishing eye contact with my audience. I would thus glance through my audience swiftly and fixed my eyes anywhere except the audiences’ eyes. However, through the multiple drilling and practice sessions during class, I've learnt the importance of eye contact. To be an effective speaker, eye contact is necessary so as to  engage and capture the attention of the audience.

One of the most memorable experiences from this module was the mock interviews conducted. I was enthralled by the excellent opportunity to play the dual roles of being an interviewer and an interviewee. We had to put on our Hollywood acting skills to create the right interview atmosphere and to make the whole interview process as genuine as possible. My very own interview experience was a really fantastic one as I got a “veteran” interviewer Zhi wei to interview me. I recalled that some of her mind blowing questions got me stumped at several occasions and I was forced to think on the spot and answer her to get my way through the interview. That top notch Hollywood interview experience as mentioned by Brad felt so surreal and I've learnt a lot from it. Before I step into the interview’s room in future, I am sure to do research about the company, prepare potential interview questions and be as confident as I can.

And most of it all, I had very fun and encouraging research group team mates who made the project more bearable and less mundane. We could share our ideas boldly and were not shy in expressing our opinions during project discussion. Every one of us have our own distinctive style and it was thus crucial to be flexible and adaptive to accommodate to those different styles. I like the fact that we had established great rapport by the end of the project and I thank Christopher, Samantha and XiaoWei for being such an awesome bunch of team mates.

In conclusion, I've gained a lot of useful insights and feedback through the course of this module and I enjoyed every single lesson conducted by Brad. Once again, I thank Brad for being such a supportive and encouraging tutor who yearns to watch his students improve along the way, and I am also thankful for all the wonderful friends that I've made from this class.

SHARLENE J

5 comments:

  1. Thank you, Sharlene, for this richly detailed reflection. Though it's quite comprehensive, you manage to provide substantive supports for the areas that you focus on, from the presentations to the interviews. It's very clear from what you write that your learning has been enriched by the social aspect of the course, and it warms my heart to know that you and your teammates encouraged one another through the course challenges.

    I'm especially impressed that you were able to leave your comfort zone in a variety of settings and do something new. The example of your willingness to engage the eyes of your presentation audience members is very fitting. In fact, as the feedback from your final presentation shows, you did that to great effect.

    I appreciate all your effort this term, Sharlene, and I'm very happy knowing that you see the clear rewards.

    Al the best as you continue your learning journey beyond the university!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey Sharlene, I share your sentiments that this is the most enjoyable module I've taken by far! I've also learnt many things in this module, and I also agree with your thoughts regarding presenting! I've always focused on content as well and have neglected my non verbals!

    I had fun knowing you too! (:

    Samantha

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Sharlene!

    It was great getting to know you through this module! I still remember earlier on in the semester when we would bump into each other in the toilet before class. And then things started to get more hectic and I started to come to school slightly later haha.

    Anyway I'm really glad that you felt you improved through this module! Like you, I was pulled out of my comfort zone sometimes as well, especially with regards to speaking up in class. Now we can take these new found skills and go and kick some ass:D

    Good luck with everything!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Brad, Sam and gail, I am glad that i was able to get out of my comfort zone and explore different things when i was taking this module.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi sharlene,

    Its really nice to get to know you through this module!

    I enjoyed working with you for the peer teaching presentation. Though our group have a tight schedule and it's often hard for us to meet for discussion, we still managed to deliver a well done presentation: )

    Like you, I have learnt a lot through this module such as presenting skills and more impotantly to walk out of my comfort zone. I can't say I am 100% out of it but I am certain that I made improvements : )

    All the best for your upcoming finals! Good luck!

    Michelle

    ReplyDelete