#6: Final reflection on learning

Group work is handed out to reduce the burden on each team member. Ironically, the converse is often true. I am pretty sure all of us here have at some point or another, felt that individual assignment would have worked out better than group work.

To begin, there is usually that annoying problem of team coordination. Through the peer teaching and research project, I experienced an unanticipated level of difficulty trying to get things done. I thought that everyone would have a minimum level of initiative which would help facilitate the progress of the assignment. Nonetheless, my assumption proved invalid as I failed to consider the busy schedules that we are all plagued by. Thankfully, my team members did communicate this across effectively, through the occasional gripes over deadlines. It certainly helped to eliminate the “why haven’t they done this up??” thought which could have led to an interpersonal conflict. Nonetheless, I chose not to over-rely on this…

Before this course, I was someone who was stingy with sharing what I really feel inside. This often has the repercussion of being understood, simply because others do not know what you think and therefore do not understand and cannot empathise.

As ‘duh’ as this might sound, the most significant takeaway from this course is the importance of 2-way communication. I shared my thoughts and tried to communicate back to them the importance of our assignment; that it should not be deemed less/more important than any other projects which they might have. Well sometimes this helped (/:), which further motivates me to be more open with my feelings. (Clearly, in such instances, communication has helped to create interpersonal understanding through a heightened awareness of each other’s feelings.) Fortunately, at times when this is futile, instead of being discouraged, I am only made more determined to work harder on my communication skills.

Communication is a never-ending journey and all the takeaways from this course have formulated the bulk of this journey, which I never once imagined could have such an extensive impact on me.

To Brad and the class: Thank you, you’ve made a difference in me. I love you all!
To ES2007S: Thanks for providing me with the opportunities to realise and work on the interpersonal issues which I have and will face. Thank you also for transforming me into a more confident speaker, and equipping me with the essential skills to better prepare me for work and definitely for life. HEARTS.

#5: Reflection on Oral Presentation

Prior to our oral presentation on Monday, the team dedicated their time on Sunday to rehearse and practise. For myself, I literally ran the presentation through my head every time I took the train. While such effort may appear commendable, it failed to fully prepare myself to speak with equanimity in front of the class, especially with the roles handed out just before our presentation. Unfortunately for myself, I’ve neglected preparation to speak before “stakeholders in CDTL”, and the “vice deans” of a few faculties. While this did not throw me off completely, I was in fact made more nervous (despite countless rehearsals) by having a real audience right before me. Looking back, it would have been more ideal to simulate the presentation scenario during rehearsals with more people (sorry Tanisha and Joel, two people weren’t enough to make up a sizeable audience):!).

Despite the rather positive feedback gathered from the class on delivery, I feel that the lack of preparation (and thus anticipation) led to an initial fumble just after our presentation commenced. I was immensely nervous because the presentation meant a lot to me, more than just in terms of assessment. I viewed it as a chance to surpass previous standards of oral presentation, and I wanted it to be flawless. Perhaps it was this attitude (zero tolerance for mistakes i.e. must say everything I’ve prepared) that contributed to the anxiety experienced, and therefore the initial hiccup; once you have realised you forgot to mention something, you’ll immediately be thrown off guard. Other than this, I think audibility and articulation were not issues for me (since I stood quite near the audience and spoke at a moderate pace).

As for the presentation slides, I think the use of pictures to communicate ideas across worked rather well. We tried to use as few words as possible in our slides so that they would not turn out too wordy. Nonetheless, when words were utilised amongst the several picture-themed slides, the large font size could have been rather overwhelming for some.

Overall, the journey from brainstorming for a proposal idea, to finally presenting it and garnering acceptance and support from stakeholders, was fulfilling (:!

All the best to Ariele, Gladys, Jian Min, Mercia, Pamela, Shi Min & Zi Hao for their presentation on Monday!

Happy Easter Sunday to all yo!

Evaluating Intercultural Behavior (Post #4)

This intercultural scenario that I am about to describe occurred last year, on a family trip to Japan. We were on board the local subway – thankfully during non-peak hours – when something interesting occurred..

At one of the stations, a young man entered, with his headphones blasting audibly loud for most heads to turn. It was surprising, that many people actually looked at him.

In Singapore, such a scenario is not uncommon. Well, every time I ride the MRT, there’s bound to be one such person. (Serious!)

As soon as the man made himself comfortable at the centre of the train, an older man approached him, and politely asked him to lower the volume. The older local ended up gesturing to him to reduce the volume of his music. Clearly, the young man was not Japanese. As much as I was shocked by this incident, I was also pleased that we’ve regained some privacy for ourselves.

In Singapore, I think the most that locals would do to such an inconsiderate person would be to stare. It would be rare for someone to attempt to request the person to turn down the volume of his music.

After this incident, I’ve become aware that it is train etiquette in Japan to not speak on cell phones or to even listen to personal music. (How strict!) If there was similar etiquette in Singapore, MRT rides would be made so much more pleasant, won’t it?

Here are some educational posters by the Japanese government, courtesy of http://wanderingabc.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-16-follow-train-etiquette-with.html

The Japanese may generally be considered a very polite population. They are often deemed highly respectful, even towards strangers. Hence, I don't think it's too much to expect similar standards from others. Perhaps this is how the Japanese feel, thus the level of reverence in their culture, which indubitably leads to a certain degree of intolerance towards non-followers (i.e. the young man who entered the train).

This event has taught me the significance of following the rules when you’re in a foreign environment. Even if we may not be aware of the local culture, it is important to play by ear, and always remain sensitive to the locals. We do not have to wholly assume the culture of the country we are visiting. Rather, I think it is imperative that we try to avoid violation of their norms, and appreciate the differences between both cultures. This I believe, constitute the fundamentals of effective communication, and is one of the ways to avoid potential cultural clashes.

#3: Application Letter Critque

Blk 500 Sunsetwil Rd
#01-70 Singapore 750011
+65 9669 0000 (m)

11 February 2012
Ms. Daisy Wan
HR Manager
Hitachi Asia Ltd.
7 Tampines Grande
#08-01 Hitachi Square
Singapore 528736

Dear Ms. Wan

I am writing to apply for the post of Engineering Assistant, which appeared in The Straits Times Classified Advertisements, dated 23 January 2012. A recent Chemical Engineering graduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS), I am confident that my degree in this field would enable me to assume challenging roles in your company, and contribute to the continuous growth and prosperity of your firm.

During the 4 years at NUS, I have consistently volunteered my time with a school-based mentoring programme at a local primary school. Working with young children has taught me the importance of patience, and persistence in ensuring that concepts explained are clearly comprehended. Spending time with them has also reminded me of the value of work with society. Additionally, this experience has grown my ability to communicate ideas across effectively, and I believe that this enhances my suitability as a candidate for the post as one of the required tasks is to liaise with suppliers and contractors.

During my earlier stage of education, participation in overseas and local science conferences has made me more cognizant of the importance of environmental conservation. Through learning about the impacts our actions have on our surroundings, I have recognised the need to ensure minimum conflict between environmental preservation and economic growth. On the other hand, perpetual involvement in teamwork has helped to groom my ability as a team player, and made me realise the significance of working hard towards meeting the needs of an organisation. I believe this will allow me to better participate in the development and execution of engineering projects, as mentioned in the job scope, should I be given the honour of working with you and your company.

While I might not have had prior work experience, I believe the aforementioned experiences gained during my course of education demonstrate an alignment of values that I share with your company. This is sufficient reason to spur me on and work hard towards delivering the best results possible with my ability.

Thank you for taking time off to read this application letter and I do hope you will look favourably at it. You may contact me via mobile or alternatively through email at kristyn_nrs@hotmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely


Ms. Kristyn Neo

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict (Post #2)

Conflict occurs when parties involved find it tough to agree on a conclusion. This is when communication may start breaking down and relationships tend to suffer. Thus, resolving interpersonal conflicts is paramount in effectively building healthy relationships.

Case

After the release of the ‘O’ level results…..

Me: “Eh, I apply for poly okay?”
Mom: “Why??”
Me: “My friend says poly takes 3 years, but this is better than wasting 2 years in JC.”

Mom looks at Dad.

Dad: “Don’t be stupid! I will not allow this!”
Me: “But why?! Poly is more hands-on.”

Dad leaves the room in exasperation.

This is just a short conversation but it highlights quite a deal of conflict. As parents, one of the few things that could bring satisfaction is to see your child enrol in a reputable or decent school. Well, I must say, they’ve invested a lot in my education and to see me just “throw everything away” like that by contemplating a polytechnic education may be disheartening.

For myself, I never really understood why a poly education is so.. ostracised. At that point, I was really very peeved off by Dad’s reaction. He could have sat us down, and explained to me his disapproval. Sound reasoning would have easily convinced me. Nonetheless, he chose to just call me “stupid” and walk away.

Well, I’ve come to understand that he was merely unable to find a more suitable adjective to express his feelings. And I don’t blame him, not anymore.

Emotions are really the main controlling aspect of conflicts. It’s definitely not easy to remain objective when someone constantly disagrees with you, or shoots your opinions down (like what Dad did).

*Ultimately, the poly route didn’t pan out. Well, if it had, things wouldn’t turn out so beautifully the way they did.

What could have been the main reason for this conflict?