Blog Post #1 - Akire Greene

   So, after seeing all the presentations, I found myself appreciating them a lot more than I thought I would. Presentations are typically boring and drawn out, but these presentations were anything but boring since they related to practical situations and real-life events. I particularly appreciated how the topic about intercultural communication and the topic on group communication allowed us to see how people react differently based on their backgrounds, personalities, and experiences. It was also nice seeing how other classmates interpreted the subjects.

One of the most interesting presentations was that which focused on the subject of intercultural communication. The way in which it explained how culture is not simply a matter of nationality or language but involves tradition, religion, roles, age, and economic standing helped me understand what culture is much better. It also made me realize that everyone has a different experience growing up, and that plays an important role in the way we talk to other people.

Another aspect that I found intriguing was the presentation of culture shock. It was stated by the speakers that culture shock does not occur only when one travels abroad, but it can be experienced even during the interaction with individuals who live in a completely different way or have unique traditions. I agree that such experiences can cause some discomfort when someone gets into a new environment like school, workplace, and community events, even though it is within one's own country.

Another part I liked was the one dedicated to stereotypes and standards. In my opinion, the topic should be discussed in the modern society because people tend to come up with quick conclusions about someone by looking at him/her or making assumptions based on no reasons. According to the speakers, some people belonging to certain groups believe that their cultures are superior to others' cultures; consequently, mutual respect disappears. I completely agree that everyone has to be open-minded and tolerant towards other nations.

I also enjoyed when the speakers told us about the differences in the communication styles used in various countries. For example, people in some cultures speak quite directly, whereas other nations are more indirect and use non-verbal signals. It sounds very fascinating to me because it helps understand why conflicts appear so frequently among people belonging to diverse cultures. Moreover, things that seem normal for one culture can be considered impolite in another society.

The presentation also talked about gender expectations and how society often teaches men and women to behave in certain ways. I thought the group explained this topic well and gave good examples. It made me think about how communication is influenced by social expectations from a young age. Even though society is changing, many stereotypes still exist today.

The second presentation on group communication was also extremely relatable. Everyone has been in a group situation, either among his/her family, friends, classmates, or at work. I particularly appreciated how the speakers highlighted the various types of groups including support groups, social groups, and workgroups. Examples used made the understanding of the material much easier.

Another aspect of the presentation that really appealed to me was the discussion on virtual groups and online communication. With the widespread use of technology in everyone's daily activities, this issue seemed highly relevant. Virtual groups were characterized as those where members communicate through video chat, SMS messaging, e-mail, social networking sites, and other digital means of communication. Various pros and cons of virtual communication were mentioned as well. As I completely agree with, virtual communication makes teamwork easier but may lead to misunderstandings when members do not fully participate.

The other part of the presentation that I found interesting is the one on healthy teams and teamwork. From the presentation, we learnt that a good team requires communication, cooperation, trust and accountability. What struck me was the use of the orchestra metaphor in which all the individuals must perform for there to be good results. In case one person fails, then the whole team suffers. This is related to teamwork because you will only succeed through teamwork if all the people participate effectively.

The other thing that caught my attention from the presentation was the way the professor motivated the students despite the challenges being faced during the presentation. There were moments where the microphones were muted and at some points the slides would be confusing.

Even though some parts of the presentations were a little difficult to follow because of nervousness or technology issues, I still think everyone worked very hard. Public speaking is not easy, especially during online presentations, so I respect the effort each group put into preparing their slides and explaining the material.

Overall, I thought both presentations were informative and meaningful. They helped me better understand how communication changes depending on culture, environment, and relationships. I also learned that being respectful, flexible, and open minded is very important when communicating with others. These presentations were not just about textbook definitions they connected to real life and made me reflect on the way I communicate with people every day.