Communication With Different Cultures and Communities

                                                My Communication With Different Cultures

https://www.networkforgood.com/nonprofitblog/tailor-communications-for-greater-engagement/

        
         I find myself code-switching and changing my tone, wordings, and phrases with different communities, families, and cultural groups in which I find myself emersed in. I try to communicate and phrase my words in a very intelligent and respectful language with my parents. I change the way I speak to match people's expectations and perceptions of myself. I sometimes hide parts of my personality and who I am based on how I feel and based on my own biases of others (Sue 2011). For example, when I am around a large Christian or Catholic community I usually suppress my bisexuality and clubbing persona. I know that I do not have to do this and not all people in this religion match this type of persona in my head however based on past experiences I find myself having a fear of being who I truly am without being judged or made to felt ashamed of my true identity.

        It is not accepted to be interested in the same sex or act in promiscuous ways in my family. Both of these are parts of my identity I try to suppress when I am around my familiar culture. I make sure that I do not speak about various clubs or bars I attend to respect and match the tone of the culture around me.

        When I am in my teacher role I am very playful and careful with the words I use to make sure everyone feels accepted, loved, and cared for in my classroom environment. I make sure to present and greet all my students, parents, and colleagues with an excited hello and goodbye in the evenings. I maintain positive energy and make sure I have on my listening ears at all times to make sure everyone I meet and come in contact with feels heard and valued. 

    When I'm with my close friends and significant others, I feel as if I am my true self and express all my different identities and beliefs in an open environment. I want to be honest with them so that they feel free, to be honest, and their true selves with me. 

    Over these courses in the diversity of early childhood program, I hope to feel freer to express who I truly am respectful to all cultures, communities, and identities with which I come in contact. 

                                                                                            Reference

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Analyzing TV With no Sound

                                                             Alone Together Freeform Series

                                                         https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5615840/

    This series is about two adults in their mid to late twenties living in Los Angeles trying to fit in with the "in crowd."

Prompt:

 Record an episode of a television show you do not normally watch. Watch the show with the sound turned off.

What do you think the characters' relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?

What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing?

Now, watch the show with the sound turned on.

What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?

Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?

Write about your experience in your blog, including what you learned about communication from this experience and insights or "aha" moments you believe would be helpful to your colleagues.

(Adapted from O'Hair & Wiemann, 2015, p. 118)

    While viewing this show with the sound turned off I was a bit off about some of the characters relationships in the show. I assumed the two main characters were a couple because of the way they were looking at each other while talking, particularly the body language the female character was showing. She was playing with her hair and batting her eye lashes while talking to her male friend. I also thought that the guy who was in the window of the house she left was someone in her family, however it turned out to be a guy she had just had relations with. I do not feel too bad about assuming the two main characters relationship status because everyone else is the show assumed that they were a couple as well. I think the director made them act a certain way and do various flirtacious body language towards each other so that the audience and other cast members in the show assume that they are in a relationship. The other side characters in the show relationships and attitudes about how they were feeling were pretty accurate to my viewing of the show with the sound on. Another relationship that I got wrong was the relationship between the main female character and a guy that she was on a date with. I had originally assumed that was her father however as the show continued I was able to catch on to cues that she was using an escort site and the guy was her client in this particular episode.

    The main just of the show is about two young adults trying to fit into the LA scene. You can tell they are outsiders by the way other characters look and interact with them. They try to interact with people in the fashion industry and people who keep up with the latest health clenses however it is clear to everyone in the show and the viewers that this isn't their normal scene. While interacting with others you see them getting side eye looks, looks of disgust, or just ignored and then excited greetings and interactions with other people who are dressed more high class or are taller than them. Height, weight, fashion, and diets, are determining factors of what is cool and not cool in this show. The two main characters like to eat sandwiches, ice cream, and donuts, while the characters they are trying to fit in with prefer green smoothies and kale chips.

    I feel as if my original assumptions such as who is in a relationship with who would have been more accurate if I was familiar with the show and the plot. I would know that the two main characters are one of those will they or won't they character tropes in the show, and they are both still trying to find who they truly are while experimenting and trying new things in the Los Angeles "in-crowd" scene. 

    

Compotent Communication Skills

                                                             Model Communication Skills

                                                                    I wish to Possess

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/communication-skills-list-2063779

                The model behavior I want to show and teach my students is to love themselves and feel confident in their own skin. I also want my students to be kind and respectful to others even when they face a disagreement with another person. Growing up I was faced with having the traits of my mom's sensitivity and my dad's hot-headed temper. At times it is very hard for me to see the bigger picture and I turn to anger and distress instead of trying to calmly come up with a solution to fix the problem. Unfortunately, my personality is the type in which people may say if Kirsten's not happy, nobody is happy. However, over the years and since I have started teaching young minds I have learned and adopted new ways of communicating with others and how to slow down my racing thoughts in times of heated interactions.

    A person who I find myself looking up to in terms of effective and competent communication skills is a woman I worked with who was a leading member at the school I teach at. She works with children with behavioral challenges and special needs, she also comes up with curriculum additives and creative projects to help children grow and learn. I learned from her that sometimes it is ok to step away from situations and take time for myself to breathe and think things through particularly during those moments when I see red. She has a very calm yet stern voice when she is working out an issue with someone rather they are a child or an adult. She knows how to voice her opinion but also listens and repeats back the other person's point of view. 

    My professional goal is to keep a level head in times of distress. I want to be able to state my point of view regardless of if a person has a different point of view. I want to be able to take criticism without becoming defensive and beginning to raise my voice or begin to get weary-eyed. 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

Goals, Hopes, and Aspirations for my journey in diversity is the Early Childhood Field

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-goals/285965/

Hope

        I chose to embark on this journey of attaining my master's in diversity in the early childhood field because I know firsthand how it feels to be different and feel like an outsider looking in. I want to be a role model and show students who feel like outsiders and have a difficult time socializing with others that they are unique and different and that is what makes life fun and exciting. Your perspectives,  communicative style, language, and identity are what are going to help society grow and develop. I also want to teach kindness and inclusion to others so that all kinds of voices are heard and seen. I hope to teach young minds and their families lessons of inclusion, togetherness, and open heart, ears, and eyes towards all different cultures and communities.

Goal

    Growing up I was used to being in this bubble community of friends, family, and support system. I was very focused and knowledgeable about my small community but not the bigger community of people who live in my state, in North America, and around the world. I learned about different cultures to the degree that matched the school's curriculum but I didn't fully know the real-life experiences from people in the present time who are amongst marginalized cultures. This course, in particular, opened my mind to biases and privileges of my own identity that I was unaware of. My goal is to challenge others particularly the families under my care about their own perceptions and beliefs of people different than them. For young children, their first sense of culture is from their home life with their parents and caregivers. I can teach my students all I can about caring for others and how diversity is positive in society however if they go home and are taught differently then my words and lessons to them may become obsolete especially when they move on outside of my classroom environment. I want to help parents grow and learn more about diversity, tolerance, and inclusion as well so that my lessons are carried out outside of the classroom and institution that I am employed.  In the future, I hope to plan family engagement activities and curriculum centered around diversity and environmental needs. It is essential that we take care of ourselves, each other, and the world around us. This is the only way we can grow and progress as a society of human beings.

Thank You

    I want to say a special thank you to my colleagues and professors for making me more knowledgeable of different perspectives, identities, and cultures in the world. You have all helped me learn more about myself along with people who are different than me. Before embarking on this journey I knew I loved working with young minds but I didn't fully know what kind of role I wanted to play in this field. It is becoming more clear to me now that I want to work with both students and families and not just be bounded to the classroom environment while during school hours but also outside of school. I want to be there for all my students and families and help them grow and learn how we can take care of one another.

               

https://ideas.hallmark.com/articles/thank-you-ideas/thank-you-messages-what-to-write-in-a-thank-you-card/