#4-Final Reflection on Learning

To make short, it was nice choice to take this course!

Before coming NUS, I had chance to read the review of other exchange students. At there, I saw lots of compliments about “Professional Communications.”

So, I tried to take this course when I came here. However, I failed several time. I was very disappointed. Finally, I could take this course.

Here, I met 9 nice class mates, and also professor. With those people, I could more understand about the lecture. They were very passionate about learning.

To be honest, there were lots of things to do: blog, peer teaching, interview, and group project. When preparing those, I was very tired and stressful. Seriously, I cried once when I got harsh feedback while I was sick.

However, now all is done, and I think that all of them was very helpful for me. If I couldn’t take this course with all these people, I couldn’t increase my English and communication skill.

I, will be the next people who recommend this course for pre exchange student!

#3- Reflection on Team Based Proposal

Team Based Work.

This time team project takes more than 1 month, with other 3 people. 

In addition, there were lots of works to do. We have to write the proposal, make PPT, make and do the survey, and write more than 20 pages paper. Our team's subject was "low birth rate of Singapore."

When beginning, I could endure the burden of work. However, when time past and I got some other 4 projects, the works looked out of my control. There were lots of works everyday, and it wasn't easy to find Singapore's information in English. If I were in Korea, I could better since I knew when to find the information. 

On top of that, since I couldn't have many chances to write down or say something in English due to the Korean English Education system which just teach and test the listening and reading, I couldn't better. Although I tried best, my works seemed not enough for our teammates, they had to change a lot.

I was very angry about myself, and felt sorry for my team mates. My poor English makes my teammates change my work, and that leads me difficult to memorize my script in presentation since the final script was different with my first version. 

Actually, since this team project needs  "professional work", my team couldn't help but change my all works. 

Through this long time team projects, I have learned lots of things such as team based work, English writing, and time organizing skill. Also, it taught me a lot to work together with people from other majors like engineering and math. It was very different from working with business major students. 

I was lucky to work with good people! Thanks Cass, Miran, and Chi-cheng. 

Blog Post #2

Evaluating Intercultural Behavior (Blog Post #2)

Effective communication? When I learn 'effective' concept in my major, business, it is related fast or more output under same input. However, in communication aspect, effective seems not just related with fast. It seems more related with 'well understanding' of the other party's meaning what he/she tries to deliver. 

Like the instruction said, it is being quite natural to work with people who is from other culture nowadays. Actually, as an exchange student here from Korea, I also am feeling somewhat 'new culture' in my Singapore life. It is my first time to being abroad, therefore I face many chances to see things at a new sight.

First of all, I want to say about team project meeting. Since all lectures I chose have team project, I have 5 different team. One of them consist of 4 western students, me and another Korean girl. Once we had a team meeting, it lasted 4 hours without not much progress. I and another Korean girl were really surprised, because that meeting was last meeting before our presentation, and we even couldn't finish our PPT file. They freely pass time with chat, they seem not that consider about our presentation. Under the same situation in Korea, people must feel anxiety, and people will set time limit about things what to do. That night, the situation was so different what I have seen, I and another Korean girl were shocked. I think it can be one of differences. I think it is good Western students make free environment when they have a meeting, however, they also need to organize the time limits.

In addition, here, while having time with some Western friends, I learn many things. Like learned in peer teaching, I can feel that Western friends tend to just care about what is said. In contrast, Eastern students, including Singaporean friends, seems consider more about other things such as posture, face, and so on. After feeling that Western friends are care more on words itself, I try to say clearly what I want to say. 

So, I am having a good time to learn and feel how Western and Eastern people are different in doing something or thinking something. Clearly, there are some difference between them. Those differences are not bad things, but for more effective and clear understanding, I think learning about the other culture and saying about their own tendency to other party can be help. 

Blogging #1

1.      Interpersonal conflict situation (context of the conflict, people involved, main problem, possible causes)

Amy and Bree have known each other for 10 years since they were in the kindergarten. They talk each other all about their secrets such as the final term grade, stories about boyfriend, and family occasions. One day, Amy said that she and her boyfriend are broken up since the boyfriend lied to her. Amy cried day and night, Bree was the only one who is next to her and mollifying her.

 After a few days, Bree saw Amy and her boyfriend are dating at the café in the downtown. Bree felt betrayed since she tried to look for man who can be a good lover to Amy. So Bree got angry and wanted to say something to Amy about the situation. Then she called Amy and said “I saw you and your ex-boyfriend at the café. How did you do that! Why you didn’t say you met again your boyfriend. I feel betrayed!” But Amy’s answer was somewhat ironical. “I didn’t say about this for you, Bree”.

2.      Identify the feelings and/or motivations of the people involved.

In this case, It is natural that Bree felt betrayed since she spend lots of time with Amy and tried hard to find another man for her. However, Amy said that not saying to Bree was for her. Amy got message and her boyfriend made an apology. She was happy but she might not sure this relation is going on. On top of that, Amy felt sorry to her friend Bree since she spent much time to mollify her. Amy thought that Bree feel angry if she gets to know about her dating with her boyfriend.

     3.      Considering the main problem and your search for a solution

I think the Amy’s lie is the main problem in this case. Though Amy considered Bree and lied, it makes the situation worse. If she told Bree the truth when her boyfriend sent a message, this situation could be prohibited.

Hence, I think that Amy should apologize to Bree and explain her intension and worries. After that, they should talk about their needs each other. By doing so, they can make a settlement between them. Saying openheartedly and politely is one of the important things which should be considered between close relationships like family, lovers, and friends.

4.      Ask for feedback from your readers in the form of ONE Question

Now I want to ask if phone-call which Bree made was good. If not, I want to hear your alternatives.

*Thank you very much for reading! Since I didn’t have many chances to write in English, there are some mistakes of grammars and usage of the words. Feel free to point out the flaw if you find something.