Increase Nonverbal Awareness and Listening Skills

Activity for Analyzing Personal Artifacts

Cognitive Area

1. The purpose of the following activity is to increase your nonverbal awareness of the ways in which you use artifacts/objects to personalize your environment. List five personal artifacts in a space you spend most of your time (examples: a photo, trophy, souvenir, keepsake, poster, record, family heirloom, stuffed animal, flag, etc.) and after each item, explain its significance to you and what it may communicate to others about your identity. Feel free to include photos of the artifacts you have chosen to analyze.

 

Artifact

Significance of artifact and what it may communicate to others about you

Example: Photograph

This photo reminds me of a very special trip I made to Argentina. It may communicate to others that I enjoy travel, am adventurous, and interested in other cultures. It’s very bright & colourful, which may indicate something about my personality. I am with my best friend at a market eating delicious food and wearing my favourite hat. It is a large print and posted on my wall that communicates that friends and family are important to me. Every time I look at this photo, it makes me happy – a great memory!

 

2. All speech communities (including groups of friends, coworkers, and families) have a unique language.
a. Create a list of SEVEN words unique to the communities to which you belong and include your own definition of each word. Texting language, slang, jargon, phrases and acronyms can be used.
b. Consider the quote, “Meaning is in people, not words.” Discuss what this quote means to you.

Affective Area

1. Answer the following based on your knowledge and experience with self-disclosure. Take time to reflect on your experiences and be descriptive with your responses.
a. In your own words, define the term self-disclosure.
b. To whom do you self-disclose regularly? Why do you self-disclose to these individuals?
c. In your own words, describe some of the benefits and risks associated with self-disclosure.
d. Describe an instance when a stranger self-disclosed to you. How did this make you feel?
e. How do you feel about self-disclosure through mediated communication/social media?

Behavioural Area

1. Listening is the most common – and perhaps the most overlooked form of communication. It’s important to reflect on your own listening skills in order to improve. This new awareness can lead to changing listening behaviour and increased effectiveness. Monitor your listening effectiveness throughout one day this week. Review the following checklist and keep it with you throughout the day to monitor your challenges when listening. Respond to each discussion question that follow the checklist.

Today I…

1. Interrupted/changed the subject when talking with another person times.
2. Misunderstood other people times.
3. Lost track of a conversation times.
4. Stopped making eye contact with a speaker times.
5. Asked someone to repeat him/herself times.
6. Let my mind wander while listening to someone times.
7. Reacted defensively to what someone was saying before they finished times.
8. Found myself listening effectively times.
9. Engaged in of the ineffective listening styles including (list each that you experienced): multitasking, pseudolistening, monopolizing/stage-hogging, mind reading, selective listening, insulated listening, defensive listening, ambushing, and literal listening.

 

a. Are the results of the checklist accurate? How do you feel about the results?
b. Reflect back to your experiences and describe the circumstances surrounding one situation for each item on the checklist.

c. How will you use this information to better your listening skills?
d. What did you learn about yourself as an effective listener as a result of this exercise?

Bonus Question (Optional)

1. It has been over a year and a half since the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Considering the requirements to socially distance from others, wear masks, limit public gatherings and pursue studies online, how has COVID-19 impacted your interpersonal communication?