Communication skills E-learning Assignment 2

I think the course has help to create in me an awareness of the intentionality required on my part if I desire to communicate effectively and efficiently in my professional capacity as a teacher. The management of the self is an extremely important in developing the necessary qualities and skills that will help me to succeed in the office as well as in the classroom.

The face-to-face session that I have had thus far is in Spoken Communication. For this module, I have learnt the practicality and relevance of phonetics and acquired a basic understanding of how they operate and how I can use them to learn and correct my own pronunciation, should I ever be in doubt. Thinking back on my secondary school days when I used to giggle and laugh at teachers who mispronounce their words makes me feel rather apprehensive about making the same mistakes myself. But at least the module has armed me when the relevant information I need to prevent myself from making such mistakes in the future and thus in that aspect, the module has been very useful.

This session has also given me the opportunity to practice public speaking. By practicing for the oral presentation, it became apparent to me how much skill is needed if one wants to become a good speaker. While it seems to come easy and even natural for some, for most people, practice really does help one to perfect speech in terms of succinctness and accuracy. The oral presentation has helped me become more confident in speaking publicly before an audience. It has also humbled me as the process of recording my own oral presentation revealed both my strengths and flaws. More importantly, the assessment component has forced me to become aware of my own speaking habits which are essential to my improvement in this area.

The online modules, Written Communication and Vocal Health, have been very useful as well. The content for these two modules are extremely relevant in the working context. As I will have to communicate with various individuals in my course of work, it is essential that I acquire skills to help me communicate well with others. Unlike spoken communication where the tone and body language will help minimize misunderstandings, written communication delivers messages in a less dynamic and immediate way. As such, the various practices, such as writing emails and formal letters, have help me become more aware of the different conventions required in writing the different forms and the importance of abiding by them to prevent misunderstandings.

The Vocal health module is also relevant as it has direct effect on my personal health. In my course of study, I have seen teachers who overstretched themselves physically, especially vocally, and how that impacts their teaching careers. The module has provided very practical tips on how to avoid overstretching one’s voice, the maintenance and preservation of one’s voice and how to control the environment of the classroom to facilitate voice projection, which are extremely important if I want to pursue a long, fruitful and healthy professional career as a teacher.

I look forward to completing the other components in this Communications module and apply the theories and practices in my capacity as a teacher in the near future.