Interpersonal Communication
Introduction to Communication
Communication is an extremely complex and sophisticated process. Excellent communicators understand the general and specific aspects of communication. They also know how to use and modify various aspects of communication to suit the situation they are communicating in, as well as the intended message they want to communicate.
Types of Communication
There are two types of communication that people use to communicate.
Verbal Communication – using words to convey a message. Verbal communication is successful when your message is received as intended.
Watch a scene from the movie ‘V for Vendetta’ for an example of using primarily verbal communication: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQyqx1K495U
Nonverbal Communication – communication without words, such as the use of facial expressions, posture, eye contact, tone of voice, gestures etc. You use nonverbal communication to clarify or make your message stronger.
Watch the episode of Mr. Bean called ‘The Exam’ for an example of using primarily non-verbal communication: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocd1D8fwdjU
Question: List the elements of non-verbal communication that you see Mr. Bean using to communicate.
Context
The context or the situation in which people are communicating changes the very way in which the people communicate. Some things are acceptable to do or say in one situation but not in another.
Watch a clip on YouTube from “Saving Private Ryan”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaVfHntwVc4
Is swearing in this context appropriate? What is the difference between talking in this context and talking in another context, such as in a job interview or during class?
Follow Up Discussion & Questions:
1. Please take the following online quiz to determine how well developed your communication skills are. Please paste a copy of your results into a word file.
Quiz: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_99.htm
2. What are the ten rules for better conversation outlined in the video?
https://www.ted.com/talks/celeste_headlee_10_ways_to_have_a_better_conversation?utm_source=email&source=email&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ios-share
3. Develop a list of at least 7 principles or tips to improve communication. Complete your research on the internet and record your answers.
4. In what ways can you improve your communication? Identify and describe two examples for verbal and two examples for non-verbal aspects of communication you can improve.
5. Choose one short video clip and explain why the person in the video is exemplifying good communication skills. Use the types of communication handout and identify at least 3 aspects of communication that are used well in the video clip. Please record the link on a word file with your answers to these questions. You will share this with the class.
Extension Questions
Question
Which type of communication do humans emphasize more, verbal or non-verbal communication?
To answer this question, consider the following pieces of information:
A researcher by the name of Albert Mehrabian created a communication model which determines that when it comes to portraying feelings and attitudes different aspects of communication portray different amounts of the message we are trying to send. Specifically,
7% of the message is conveyed through the words we speak.
38% of the message is sent paralinguistically (the way that words are said).
55% of the message is sent through the facial expressions we use.
Other people interested in communication disagree with this hypothesis. They claim that without words, it is extremely difficult for information to be received in the way that the sender intended it. Watch the following YouTube clip from the link below to understand the counter argument to Mehrabian’s theory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dboA8cag1M
Questions:
1. Do you believe that Mehrabian’s theory correctly represents the amount of information that is portrayed through each way when it comes to conveying feelings and attitudes?
2. Do you think the counter arguments presented in the YouTube clip demonstrate that Mehrabian’s theory is incorrect? Explain your answer.
3. Do you think the following statements about what one should take away from what we have just covered are important?
· The more you use of all both aspects of communication – verbal (the words you speak) and non-verbal (paraliguistics and facial expressions) the easier it is to more accurately portray your message to your intended audience.
· Both verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication have to be used correctly to accurately convey feelings and attitudes.
· Being a good listener means you need to know how to interpret both the verbal and non-verbal aspects of a sender’s message correctly.
4. Which one is the most important thing to remember? Explain why you believe it is more important than the rest.