Communication and Culture Diversity

Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?

Yes, I often find myself communicating different with people depending on the group and culture. When I communicate with my family and friends I use informal language and different voice tones. My family is very loud and opinionated and to some looking in you would think that we just argue and holler. It is quite funny if you did not know us but that is the way we communicate. We crack jokes, laugh, and sometimes get mad! My communication, of course, changes when I am at work. My tone changes and the words I use change. I become the active listener that was discussed in earlier lessons. I take in consideration of all people involved and do my best to relate to their feelings and ideas.  Communication with my friends is also very informal. We have known each other since elementary and we usually crack jokes and sometimes say inappropriate things that would not be acceptable any place else. 

In this week's lesson I have learned more things about communication. To improve my communication with others I will strive to be more empathetic toward others and how they feel about things. I learned that it is not always important to get my message across but to understand the message that others are trying to get across. After reading the article about nonverbal communication, I have become more conscious of my body and facial movements. Many of my friends have said that they could tell what I was thinking by the look on my face. When working with families, this is something that I need to be more aware of in the future.