CONVERSATION ASSUMPTIONS

          I watched an episode of Tyler Perry s “The Haves and the Have Knots” the show is a night time soap opera. As I watched the show with the volume down, I perceived some conversations to be really intense. For example; character’s were pointing, moving hands around and looking angry or upset. Then when I watched the same scene with the volume up, my assumptions were correct. There was an intense conversation between a man and a woman who were romantically involved. The facial expressions and the finger pointing were indicative of an intense argument and unhappy people. I now have to make time in my schedule to catch upon this sizzling night time soap opera; it was very interesting and entertaining! This experience was very interesting, trying to figure out what others are communicating based solely on body language, facial expressions and gestures were enlightening. I have even more respect for people who have a hearing loss or have hearing limitations, because they are relying on these messages and or lip reading, if there are no captions when watching movies or television.

COMMUNICATION STYLES

  

     I would like to share my professor from undergrad effective communication style. As my cohort began, we all attending an orientation and one of the professor’s who spoke at the orientation did such a great job. She encompassed vibrant, positive energy. She introduced herself with a little bit of background information, then she asked everyone to do the same. I thought this was a great icebreaker, the orientation went well because she was an honest speaker for one; she explained how intense the program would be and to just embrace it and set priorities and schedules. I most certainly appreciated her honesty, because it gave me a true interpretation of what the program would be like. I would like to model her free spirit, and honesty within my own communication behaviors, because in order to capture an audience I believe you need a personality and being honest and truthful we keep that audience!

WELCOMING FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

    I choose the country Ghana to familiarize myself with; here are some interesting facts about this wonderful African country. In 1960 roughly 100 linguistic and cultural groups were recorded in Ghana. Ghana, a country on the West Coast of Africa, is one of the most thriving democracies on the continent. It has often been referred to as an "island of peace" in one of the most chaotic regions on earth. It shares boundaries with Togo to the east, la Cote d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north and the Gulf of Guinea, to the south. A recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea could make Ghana an important oil producer and exporter in the next few years.

     Five ways in which I will prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family:

1.      Become educated in cultural beliefs of the people you serve.

2.       Become convinced that just because someone else’s customs and beliefs are different from yours, there are no right or wrong cultural beliefs

3.      Establish personalized contact with individuals and their families.

4.      Learn about the people that you serve

5.      Develop and use vocabulary of greetings and key phrases in the

Family’s primary language

     I believe that these preparations will enable me to be a better educator, because when you are working with families who’s culture you have know identity with you must make a conscious effort to learn, be sensitive, have great communication and show a genuine respect and care for their children, family beliefs and customs .

References

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tribes/

THE PERSONAL SIDE OF BIAS, PREJUDICE AND OPPRESSION

     A memory of bias that I witnessed was seen via face book. There was a picture of toddler’s clothes hanging on hangers and on one of the outfits was a picture of an African American baby that was supposed to be a replica of a monkey holding and eating a banana.

 

This incident made me feel angry, uneasy, upset, and sad. In this day and age people would think that this is somehow cute, and would sale and not be offensive to African American people. This is our child and this is what you think of us as humans. This picture diminishes equity and is very stereotypical and racist. It is a statement that African American babies are little monkeys. People have to be more conscious and sensitive towards others races and be very mindful of the images that you put out, especially in a children’s store. The person’s who thought that this was acceptable need to change and they most definitely need a course in anti-bias education.

References

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2687553/Outrage-novelty-monkey-T-shirt-photographed-hanger-depicting-head-African-American-boy.html