Blog post #1-Angelie Sagastume

  Working on this group project was slightly more time-consuming and hands-on than expected. I overestimated the difficulty and assumed it would be simpler due to most of the work being divided. Because of the number of people in the group, it was harder to finish the assignment as a whole faster than you would alone. I quickly realized that a group project takes far more communication and incorporates more teaching styles. Patience and cooperation with those who need extended time are necessary. It was important to me to take other people's communication style into account and the way they contribute. When the project was first assigned, my group members and I were able to approach each subtopic with different strengths despite its complications. 

We decided to divide the work amongst each other based on how much information was in each section. A great challenge we faced was dividing the work unfairly because there was more information in some subtopics than others. Some sections were a bit shorter but harder to digest, while others held more information but were made up of simple concepts. I felt this affected the way some presentations were held, such as being able to speak smoothly and with confidence, due to some topics being lighter than others. I noticed this quickly among each of the presentations, for example, with the leaders who completed the introduction and conclusion. I realized how digestible they made their information and how easily they were able to teach and relay their findings. And I think this is one of the most important qualities to have when learning how to speak publicly in a more confident manner. This was a correlation i made in both the material and the presentation because someone who speaks with clear confidence and is well articulated tends to gain more trust as opposed to someone who avoids eye contact or isn't entirely focused on the subject. Involving direct and indirect speech is also an effective way to use com It was a bit of a struggle to present on my end due to several circumstances such as a lack of internet connection, a broken mic, and unexpected issues, but the rest of the presentation went smoothly, and everyone was able to pull through with their part despite me having to come in last after some last-minute attempts. I think the most important thing I had to learn from this was how to quickly recover from a mishap like that. Especially, considering it had never happened to me before due to a lack of experience in this subject. Communication was highly stressed throughout the assignment by my peers and our professor which also allowed me to be able to have that second chance to present after my peers did. 

Reading the class book was one of the most important parts of this process. Skimming the book for notes was not enough to contribute anything meaningful. I felt as if each person explained each topic thoroughly with interesting visuals. It was important to me as group leader that everybody understood and explained their part well so that the whole group could have a consistent flow and the entire project would not be missing any important information. I think our group was responsible enough to pull through. At the end, everyone's work was combined on the PowerPoint, and it made me realize this assignment went beyond evenly split tasks. It's about understanding people's strengths, learning to accommodate, and time management.

Learning about culture and communication through this project gave me a different perspective on the theory of mind. Because of culture and a different upbringing, people from around the world can see social cues and emotional expression in completely different ways. I think this allowed my group the opportunity to explore different cultural backgrounds.'' Communication and its daily use affects the way everyone on the outside perceives you. It heavily dictates your character and personality. The speed, tone of voice, and body language. I was able to leave our first project with the understanding that it's necessary to have an open mind when meeting new people, and it often goes overlooked when we're so used to our own habits. Some of my favorite slides included the ones discussing ethnicity because I tend to feel personally connected to this side of communication. Being Mexican, I have felt a heavy cultural difference in the way I speak to my elder immigrant family members as opposed to my siblings and cousins who were born here in America. I find myself quickly waving my hands around to convey several emotions which have been misenterpreted to many Americans in my lifetime. It has been such a journey in my life and in my family's to grow and express ourselves. 

Another topic I appreciated relating to was the distance in communication most gapped age groups experience. Understanding that theres an obvious gap between the older and younger generation is crucial to acknowlegde so that we may fix the issue as a society rather than as individuals. The reason this gap exists is because of all the enviromental factors such as lack of technology or different social expectations. For example, Gen-Z depends on instant communcation to keep in touch with their loved ones which may come across as disrespectful and distant to people who are older. Social standards tend to play a role in the divide between generations and neither habit is neccasarily an issue however the gap is not easy to avoid. 

In conclusion, the project involved more work than I had anticipated however, I realized a lot of important skills and lessons I will be taking with me into the next project. Working towards a common goal with everybody gave me an oppurtunity to apply these communication skills academically and socially. I think this project helped me and my peers view socializing and communication through a different lesne and helps us step out of our comfort zone. Considering my group aleeady felt fairly easy to exchange information with, I am confident these new teachings will make future projects simple.