Messages can deceive!!

In class we are learning that when we communicate, we use two major signal systems- verbal & non-verbal. Sometimes, when we send this messages we are not being completely sincere... This is a major problem, because in order to have good communication, we need to say the truth.

Last week we played a game that is called "Two truths and a Lie".  We all came up with two truths about ourselves and one lie, then the class decided by our actions which statement was the lie. . We had a lot of fun!

By doing this activity I realized that sometimes it's not easy to figure out if someone is saying the truth or lying... I think that it is really important for us to understand, that by being part of this society we have to contribute in the best way that we can... And saying the truth is always the best option!!  :D:D

LISTEN!!!!

This week my Interpersonal Communication class was about LISTENING.

We learned the 5 stages of listening, how things like gender or cultural differences can affect the way we listen to others, and we also learned a really important concept: Empathy.

Empathy is when you understand what the person means and the way he/she feels. In order to be an active listener, you need to have empathy. After I read what empathy was, I decided I was going to try to apply it in my life. I know it is not always easy to understand what others are going through, but it is always better if you have someone that listens to you!! :)

When we avoid offensive listening & we listen with empathy, we become good friends and active listeners!!! :D

SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY

Last week in class we learned a new concept that really caught my eye. It was Self-fulfilling Prophecy. 
This is basically a prediction that comes true because you act on it as if it were true.
It can apply to many aspects of your life, and it covers many different situations as family relationships, educational settings, bussines, and your own perspective of things.

Yesterday I had a really difficult test on my Biomedical Principles class, and I was truly worried about it.
I didn't know what to do, and finally I applied what I knew about self-fulfilling prophecy. I studied hard, and I convinced myself that I was going to do great on it!!
To my surprise the test wasn't as bad as I thought, and I was pretty confident with what I knew. I did a really good job! :D:D

I think that self-fullfilling prophecy is really useful. It brings confidence, and it helps to change your perspective of things.

http://www.firstcovers.com/userquotes/3826/all+our+dreams+can.html

JOHARI WINDOW!

The Johari Window is a simple and useful tool for illustrating and improving self-awareness, and mutual understanding between individuals within a group. =)

In class we had the opportunity to learn more about Johari Windows, and actually we did our own.
As the picture shows, a Johari Window has 4 parts or sections:
The Open Area, Blind Area, Hidden Area & Unknown Area. 
It was really interesting to learn what each section meant, and actually create my own Johari window was really nice!! I liked it because I learned more about myself & I also learned what my classmates think about me.

I think that by applying the idea of the Johari Window, we can learn more about self-disclosure, and we can learn to give, and accept, constructive feedback. =)!

The Transmission of Culture

This weekend I read an article about a girl from India who moved to the United States when she was 10 years old. She talks about the challenges that she faced, how different America was from her little town in India, and how hard it was for her to keep her family traditions alive when she moved.

As I was reading the article, it came to my mind one of the days in class when we read how culture is transmitted from one generation to another through two different ways:

Enculturation: Which describes the process the little girl lived in her early years because she learned the culture into which she was born. Then, when she moved to America she experienced Acculturation: which is the process by which you learn the rules of a culture different from yours.
The girl, now 26 years old also described how wonderful it is to be able to belong to two different, but beautiful cultures.

=)

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

Today is Mexico's Independence Day. It is a very special day for me and my family, and to celebrate it we went to eat to a friend's house. We had an amazing day, and the best part was that in his house there were people from different nationalities too! We all had a good time, and they were really respectful to our culture :) We also had the chance to learn more about their traditions, and even tough we are far from Mexico, they made us feel home!!

In class, we learned that cultural sensitivity is an attitude and way of behaving in which you are aware of and acknowledge cultural differences. I think that all of us experienced today cultural sensibility, because we were respectful with each other and we were able to establish good friendships!!

NOISE

This week we learned in class that noise is anything that interferes with you receiving a message.

As I was trying to find different noises in conversations, I realized that noise is really everywhere!!!

My cousin invited me to her house this weekend, we watched movies, and we spent time together.  One of her friends was there too, and she used her phone the whole movie!!.. It was so annoying... she was texting all the time.

I realized that her phone was a really big noise. She didn't let us have a good time!