Final reflection on learning

This class is based on the professionalism communication. We study everything which has a relation with communication. For example, we went through how to interpret nonverbal communication or how to write a proposal.

I think it is a great course which helped me to improve my English expression. We did some presentations. Giving a presentation in another language than in your mother tongue is quite difficult because first, you feel stress and secondly, it is more difficult to improvise your speech in another language. But it was a good exercise which gathers everything that we saw during this class such as, the body language, the way to express something by using the tone’s voice or some pauses for example. Indeed, we noticed that the way of using the voice can change a meaning of a sentence. The voice and the body language are powerful ways of communication. After presentations, students give their feedbacks. The feedbacks are useful to improve and understand what is bad or what could be better. Students are all volunteers and the teacher also invites us to participate which make the class dynamic and it helps to know each other.

We also worked on resume and cover letters. These works are very useful and interesting for our future. We had feedbacks from the teacher which is very good and help us to improve our papers. We also worked on interviews and the thing to do or not to do. We had training during the class. It was a good exercise to test our improvisation skill and to prepare us to our next interviews.

Above the study side, this course was a pleasant and interesting moment. It was easy to meet local students, to talk with them since we work together. I enjoy going in this class which was different from the other engineering class that I had. I will miss the dynamic and the ambiance of this class. I feel sad that it already the end of this semester. I will miss NUS and the people that I met and Singapore.

Proposal project

The proposal project is a group work. It leads students to have a reflection on a Singapore’s issue. Students must to do some research on the chosen topic and raise a problem. The main goal of the proposal is to propose some solutions to solve the issue. But what is the best way to do it?

First of all, a topic must be chosen. For this, a brainstorming was done with every member.  During this part, everybody was allowed to propose whatever topic that he/she is interested in. I think this way to start a project is better because it gives the opportunities to each member to express his/her thought. Each idea had been noted. After that, we created a debate to discuss about the proposed topics and try to figure out which topic could be the most interesting subject to work on. Everybody must to be agreed and be inspired by the chosen topic because it is important that everybody feels motived to work.

Then, we tried to be organized as much as possible by managing the schedule. For example, for the first week, a topic mush be chosen and some research should be done; for the second week, a survey should be realized etc. We did not do this step that well. It would be good to improve this part for the next group project. It is easier to know was to do the next time if you manage to plan each step.

The research on the topic was done by every members in order to know and to understand the subject. Then, we had defined for each person the different parts to focus on and to write. Sharing the work is more efficient in the case where the group has regular meetings. In our group, we did not have a lot of meeting but we were working online with Google drive. It is a good work platform to work in a group. Google drive is a good tool but I think I could have been better if we had more meeting to share more easily the ideas and to have more cohesion in our work. It is better to try to be realistic with the work and the proposed solutions. We did it for the solutions, but for the proposal, we planned to do an interview for example but we did not have enough time to do it.

It is important to be organized but it is not the only one. Communication and behavior are also very important.  Indeed, in order to have a good harmony between the group members, try to be polite with the other member.  For example, it is better to say “your idea is good, but I think it does not fit with this background" or “I am quite agree but I think the teacher would prefer...” rather than “No, it is bad”. Besides, behavior also plays a role in a group project. For example, if a meeting is planned, it is better to be present and to be on time. It is sign of respect. But in our group, fortunately, we did not have this case.

Thus, for the next proposal group we can improve the managing time and make more meetings.

Evaluation intercultural behavior:

The intercultural behavior is the diversity of behaviors coming from different cultures.  This intercultural diversity often appears in the melting-pot society or in the workplace, especially in multination companies. The evaluation is the fact of taking information and tries to understand them. We can wonder why is it so important to be able to evaluate intercultural behavior?

The behavior of people depends on many parameters like the society, the culture or the way which he/she was educated. There are many difference behaviors or values. So there also are different manner to interpret them, which can lead to communication and comprehensive problems. It is important to define what is the universal behavior and those relative to a culture. When some behavior is relative to a culture it is better to not judge with our opinion but try to understand and accept them.

With increase globalization, companies are led to work with other companies from different countries. One of the most important aims of employees and employers is to be good in intercultural relationships. Indeed, without any knowledge of cultural characteristics of the business partner, it is very likely to have some misunderstanding. Those misunderstandings often lead to a strengthening of difference of cultures and can become counterproductive. Being able to evaluate and understand intercultural behavior is now becoming a key competence in business since it avoids misunderstanding.

The best way to try understanding other culture is to be immerging in the country. For example, either by travelling and by meeting local people, or by academic exchanging are some different ways to be steeped in and learn another culture. Indeed, the way of thinking, the way of reacting or the way or solving problems can be different according countries, regions, cultures. Each cultures or countries have their own norm which must be respect even if we do not understand them. A simple illustration is the way of saying hello which differs from a country to another. For example, in France, we kiss the cheeks. According the regions, the number of kisses or the first cheek that we give to the other person can change. Actually, in the North, French people gives the right cheek first with two kisses whereas in the South is the left cheek first with three or sometimes two kisses. The number of kisses depends on region and habits.

Thus, being able to evaluate and understand intercultural behavior is now primordial, especially in multinational companies. It makes work easier and efficient because it avoids misunderstanding.  

Resolving interpersonal conflict:

The interpersonal conflicts are some relationship problems between two peoples at least. It could happen among our relatives or at the workplace. In all the case, it seems important to me to try to resolve them to not be concern, or in order to work efficiently and have a good working environment for example. But how to do it?

First of all, it is important to take a global view to understand the origin of the conflict. It can just be a misunderstanding for the one part at the beginning and become a bilateral conflict slowly if the dialogue is broken. However, if the conflict is old it can be more difficult to resolve it but a resolution is always possible if both want to. 

Then it is maybe easier to have a neutral mediator who could help to create a calm and helpful debate. With this mediator, both parts can share their point of views. But, the way to perceive conflicts influences on our resolving attitude. So they have to listen each other carefully to try to understand what the other really wants. During the debate, people must reassess itself and should compromise in order to be able to make progress. The goal of this debate is to try to find a solution and resolve the conflict. The solution must be fair for both parts.

Finally, the best way to resolve a conflict is an understanding and helpful communication between both sides. But both parts also must make a goodwill gesture to compromise and manage to find a solution and solve the conflict. Some appointments can be organized to talk about the results of the found solution and see if the relationship is become better or not. If it is worst, an another solution might be worth considering.