Annotation One

The following piece of evidence is an informational brochure that I created with tips and information regarding how to successfully communicate with others, and also, the importance of building rapport.  After researching and developing the brochure, I implemented some of what I learned at my internship.  The specific techniques that I tried to use were active listening, expression awareness, and interpreting criticism in a constructive manner.  I had previously heard about some of the techniques in a past, elective communications course.

Communication is such a fundamental part of life and having good communication skills can benefit an individual in so many ways.  For example, positive communication skills can enhance relationships with oneself, family members, friends, and colleagues.  It can also increase success, confidence, respect, and help with conflict management. 

Communication is practiced in everyday life, and in terms of my internship, some of the techniques I tried to use prospered and some did not.  I learned that the approach to communication changed based on the type of individual that I was trying to connect with.  The four types of individuals are, controllers, collaborators, analyzers, and socializers.

Active listening always promotes good communication in every situation.  One circumstance that it was difficult for me to communicate with a student effectively was a couple weeks into my internship.  I was taken aback by this particular students' over the top personality.  He mostly displayed characteristics of a controller but was outgoing like a socializer.  

In a classroom setting the student raised his voice at me and then spoke to me in a condescending tone.  Instead of listening to him, I walked away and then the student proceeded to call me an inappropriate name.  Obviously, there are consequences for that kind of behavior, so I had to give the student a "late van," meaning, the student was to wait an extra day before he was allowed to go home for the weekend.  Instead of going home with the rest of the students at the end of the school day on Friday, he had to wait until early Saturday afternoon to go home.  

When informing the student of his consequence, I'm sure I displayed an uneasy look on my face as well as a nervous tone in my voice and tense actions because, to be completely honest, I was still a little rattled from what had just happened.  I tried to clarify what happened right away, in a nice way, which didn't make any difference.  I should have thought back to what I researched previously.  When dealing with an individual who fits into the controller category, one should get to the point with a concise, confident statement. The student was angry with me for the rest of the time he was at the Narragansett campus; Granted, he was probably bitter toward me because of the end result of him calling me a name, but  I could have handled the situation differently.

After that incident, I tried to always take into consideration the personalities of the students at Ocean Tides so that, if ever there was a negative situation, I was able to diffuse it so that it did not escalate.  In doing this, I was able to communicate with the boys in a more positive way.

Outside of the brochure.

Inside of the brochure.