How do I communicate differently?

I believe everyone communicates differently with people from different groups and cultures. We communicate based on socioeconomics, education, ethnicity, language, and other cultural factors with people that are different from us.

I communicate with my colleagues, parents, and community in a professional manner. I have some grammar issues and I find myself selecting my words more carefully than when communicating with a close relative or friend. Grammar is a set of rules that is important for creating words, phrases, and sentences. I agree with O’Hair and Weimann (2009) using correct grammar of a particular language helps ensure communication. A strategy I already have in place is to use better grammar skills when communicating professionally. I have to be careful and watch my subject-verb agreement. I practice grammar skills, and I’m advancing my personal growth development in education to help me develop politically correct grammar when speaking as a professional.

Being raised in the south of the U.S., I am connected to what we call: “A southern slang”. My family and friends share this same slang with me, therefore when communicating with them our cultural language is mocked. Slang is language that is informal, nonstandard, and usually particular to a specific group; it operates as a high level abstraction because meanings of slang are known only by a particular group of people during a specific time in history (O’Hair & Wiemann, p. 80, 2009). When communicating with someone different than me it will occasionally create misunderstood communications. As I grow in my language skills I can’t help but be more aware of others verbal and nonverbal communications. There are a few of the behaviors I would like to change personally for me. Strategically I can be aware of both my verbal slang and my nonverbal gestures.

As a teacher I communicate with my students differently. They are very young children and are acquiring their language skills and building vocabularies. I chose simpler terms and try to be clear and always appropriate responses. It’s up to me to help my students develop their communicational skills. I will continue to educate myself on strategies and interventions that will allow me to gain knowledge to be prepared to teach language.

Resource
O’Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2009). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.