Final Reflection

This class to me has been a blessing from the start. I had wanted to take this module since Year 1, but was told that it was available to only Year 2 students and above. When I was in Year 2, I was delighted. I tried bidding for this module, but astounding bid points and incompatible timetables left me disappointed. In Year 3 semester 2 (this semester), I persisted and was set on bidding for it when round 2 started. It slipped my mind that bidding for this module actually starts in round 1. When I realized it, it was already round 2. I started getting frantic because I was in camp and there was no internet connection. I thought I had missed the boat. The module was after all highly sought after. Thankfully, my friend brought his laptop which had internet connection and I borrowed it to check the bidding history. To my utter amazement, this class ES2007 group 4 had one available place!! I was so thankful. Yet there was another concern, since it was the last place. If others were to bid for it then, the bid points would soar and I would have a chance of being outbidded. I silently prayed, during the whole of round 2, that the place would be preserved for me. My being in this module is evidence that God hears prayers. Against all odds, the place was “kept” for me.

On the first day of class, I was with mixed feelings. I had feelings of anticipation yet a little fearful because I was unsure what was ahead. I knew that there was no magic formula to effective communication but I understood the importance of it in interpersonal relationships. I compared it with a tool of a carpenter, which needed regular sharpening to be effective for use. Indeed, my tool was sharpened through this module.

Owning a blog for the first time and posting my comments online gave me a sense of satisfaction and achievement. Constant writing improved my command of the language and made me more conscious of errors committed unknowingly. Constructing resume, job application letters, business letters and minutes, participating in a mock interview and class discussions, researching a project and presenting our findings, have greatly equipped me for the real world after graduate. I feel that this module has been a good training ground for me in that it has helped me raise my self-confidence through understanding the intricacies of effective communication and putting them into practice.

Indeed, all good things must come to an end. Looking back, this journey, though short, has been enriching and fun. I learnt a lot from fellow course mates during the review sessions and other class interactions. I am also privileged to have a tutor, who has a good grasp of the content matter and is well-endowed with a wealth of experience to share, which has inspired me in more ways than one. One word to describe this experience --- Thankful.

Be happy

Here's a very cute video by Huggies diapers. Enjoy! And always look on the bright side of life!

Reflection on Oral Presentation

Su..suc…succ….sussess….SUCCESSFUL. This was one word which I stumbled on during the presentation, and eventually managed to pronounce, albeit with some awkwardness. This was definitely evidence of nervousness and something which I saw coming actually. As much as I had tried to preempt the words which I thought were more challenging to pronounce, I guess nervousness still got the better of me and presented itself even in simple words. I also struggled a couple of times during the presentation to find the right words to use and I think this could be one area where I can work on. Making deliberate effort to articulate my thoughts and ideas in all situations, even if it’s just hanging out with friends, will allow me to expand my vocabulary and practise the use of the English language. This will inherently increase my confidence during presentations.

For me, I felt that there was a little struggle between trying to avoid looking at my notes and ensuring that I presented all that I had intended to say for each slide. I guess I wasn’t confident enough to do without my notes and did not want to risk going blank during the presentation, thus I was prepared with notes to fall back on. This could have been a good thing, on the one hand, because at least I had content for each slide regardless of the activity of my brain.:) On the other hand, having notes could have prevented me from engaging the audience as much as I had wished to, and caused me to hurry through my presentation, focusing on just getting through with what I needed to say.

I could go on and on talking about my weakness and how I could have done better but I also want to acknowledge God and the people around me who have helped me survive the preparation for this presentation, while trying to complete a lab report and study for a test today. I thank God that His grace is sufficient for me, and that His power is made perfect in my weakness. Although there were some hiccups here and there, I generally felt that I was braver during this presentation as compared to my previous presentation, where my lips and hands literally trembled as spoke. Haha… In addition, I am also thankful for my group mates who have been very helpful, supportive and encouraging throughout the research project and the preparation for this presentation.

Presentation is definitely not my forte. But as my tennis coach used to say when we lost a point, “Don’t worry, the next one can only get better.” I guess it’s true that I can only get better every time I present, because every presentation is an opportunity for me to learn from my mistakes and improve.

I am thankful for this experience, and look forward to your feedback! :)