Reflective Journal on My Classroom Sessions, Intercultural Event, Conference, E-readings - Coursework Example

Heading: Reflective Journal Your name: Course name: Professors’ name: Date Introduction This paper concerns a reflective journal on my classroom sessions, intercultural event, conference, e-readings, guest presentations, and seminar. The reflections are based on my global experience in terms of intercultural communication, career management and networking. Reflections 1. Intercultural event At the beginning of the year, a Japanese friend invited me to a cultural dance and festival that was held in one of the cultural centers in Melbourne. Before attending, I wondered what kind of ceremony that was, and whether it was going to benefit me at all. This is because I have always liked the Australian culture, and believe that no other culture can make sense to me. Of all cultures in the world, I have always found the Japanese culture as the weirdest. Nevertheless, I was yet to be proved wrong in the event at Melbourne. Surprisingly, I found myself thrilled at the way the event was organized, how the performances were done, and most of all at the kind of food served in the event. To my astonishment, I found the ceremony so interesting and beneficial, contrary to my expectations. Consequently, the notion that I held about the Australian culture as the best in the world was totally dismissed. I found the Japanese people to be very hospitable, considerate, and accommodating. This is because I never witness any discriminatory, prejudicial or stereotyping experience in the event. Despite the fact that the ceremony was mostly attended by Japanese individuals, there were a number of outsiders like me. All the same, we received equal treatment as any other Japanese present in the event. I could not resist the temptation to join in the dances and other performances in the event. Most important, I learned the significance of appreciating other people’s cultures, and that there is no particular culture that is superior to others. Instead, every culture is unique and valuable to a particular group (Sadri 2011, pp. 26-36). 2. E-reading materials In the course of the year, I decided to do a lot of research on the concept of intercultural communication. This is because I found it complicated at first, especially in terms of the theories. I could not quite comprehend the significance of these theories in the course. Therefore, in my online researches, I got an opportunity of reading a wide range of materials on intercultural communication. Upon exposure to a variety of books and journals, I eventually understood the intercultural communication theories and their significance in the effective understanding of the concept. Moreover, the materials made me realize the importance of studying the course. For instance, intercultural communication is vital in the learning the values of other cultures and appreciating them. In addition, I learnt that the course is beneficial in that it provides various ways of communicating effectively. Most important, intercultural communication course is necessary for every individual in that it helps in the avoidance of some misunderstandings , and offers knowledge on the certain aspects of various cultures (Guffey 2011, pp. 80-90). Additionally, through my reading, I interacted with a wide range of cultures in the world, such as, African, Chinese, American, Japanese, and European. Here, it was interesting to know that each culture varied perceptions on objects, events and other aspects of life, for example, death, time, religion, and identity. Therefore, Australians view death differently from the Japanese or Africans. Further, Guffey 2011, pp. 80-90) notes that every culture has distinct symbols for every object and phenomena. This knowledge is highly indispensable in the peaceful co-existence of different communities, promotion of international relations, and working towards the achievement of a common goal. 3. Seminar This year, I joined a various clubs in college with an aim of interacting with various individuals and enhancing my global experience. All the clubs have given me a great experience, but it was in the business club that perception on career certainly took a different turn. Recently, the club organized a national seminar in college in which various issues on career management were addressed. The event was organized for college students and both local and foreign business professionals in the country. Initially, my views on career management were limited to the national level, for I had never imagined myself working in another country. Since I was a child, I have had the notion that Australia is the only country that could give me an opportunity to develop and effectively manage my career. Notably, the seminar shed light on the importance of career management for everyone. Moreover, most of the speeches made in the seminar were centered on ways of ensuring efficient career management among individuals. As a young professional and student, I noted that career management ought to begin at one’s early stages in life, and that it was a lifetime process (Bambacas & Bordia 2009, pp.9-18). In addition, I learnt that working in other countries was also important in career management since it provides a global experience on developing career. Imperatively, Rashid & Zhao (2010, pp.20-24) argue that exposure to a variety of working environments also promotes one’s productivity and full accomplishment of personal goals. Therefore, I found the event one of the most rewarding events that the club had ever organized in a long time. 4. Class discussion The importance of career management was also emphasized in one of the discussions held in class. I organized the class discussion in response to certain questions that were running in my mind ever since the course our lecturer introduced the course. I was eager to share them with my classmates as well as hearing their reactions to the issues. For instance, I wanted to know what my colleagues thought about working in foreign countries, and employment of foreigners in the local companies. Consequently, a majority of the group responded in favor of the working abroad as a way of developing one’s career. Further, I noted that many of my classmates were well conversant with the concept of career management. This was evident in the way the easily outlined ways steps of the career management process. Imperatively, the discussion made me realize that one’s success in life was determined by the way in which they manage their careers. This implies that other than professional qualifications, one has to have effective networking skills that will enable them widely interact with people (Stumpf 2007, pp. 12-17). This was contrary to my earlier thoughts that career management began when one was already done with school. Additionally, I learnt that most of my colleagues liked the idea of developing career outside the country (Bambacas & Bordia 2009, pp.9-18). Surprisingly, 90% of the group had high expectations of getting attached to other countries in search of global experience. Evidently, the course has been helpful for me as I now have a different perception about career, and an open mind on issues of career management. 5. Conference One of courses that I studied this year on global experience is experience. In search of greater understanding of the concept, I engaged myself on a variety of activities and events within and without college. It was in one of the conferences in Melbourne that I gained some valuable insight on the issue of networking as part of global experience. Contrary to my view, I learnt that networking was an active and spontaneous and lifetime process in which an individual develops a chain of acquaintances in school, work place, meetings, seminars, church, and even on the road. Moreover, I learnt that networking happens at any point in life since people keep meeting new people (Silvia 2011, pp. 10-20). I attended the seminar in company of a friend, and through it, I got an opportunity of meeting many people across cultural, political, professional, religious, and racial affiliations. Notably, networking is significant in that it promotes communication in an organization and other institutions. Not only is it beneficial in the development of personal relations, but also in the career development. Lussier (2009, pp. 267-274) asserts that through networking, people share vital information on how to conduct business, life issues, and legal matters. I also learnt that it is also through networking that individuals get job opportunities because of interacting with organizational management employees. Besides, it is easier to get a job through networking because the information is communicated directly from the people in companies, unlike through advertisements on newspapers and internet. 6. Guest speeches Recently, through the business club seminar, many presentations were made in line with the significance of networking. Alongside career management matters discussed in the seminar, the guest speakers illuminated on the significance of networking in order to achieve personal and professional goals. Through those speeches, I noted that networking also provides one with global information that is instrumental in the successful career management and development (Lussier 2009, pp. 267-274). Additionally, the presentations changed my attitude towards travelling and meeting new people. Initially, I knew nothing beyond just making and maintaining friends, but the event made realize that it is not just about meeting people making constructive connections for professional and personal development. What is more, it is through the speeches that I learned that not all networks created are healthy and constructive. This implies that they individuals in as much as we are advised to make connections, we are also warned about the networks that can ruin our personal and professional lives. In that case, we ought to be cautious in the process of networking so as to incorporate only those that going to be instrumental in our growth (Silvia 2011, pp. 10-20). Besides, I managed to meet new people from different parts of the country, and I hope to keep these networks throughout. By interacting with some of them, I got to learn more about some companies and professions. It was also relieving to learn that people succeed in their businesses and professions through effective exchange of information form one person to another. Explicitly, most of the successful businessmen and professionals have well developed networks in which they get advice, suggestions, guidance, ideas, and clients. More so, I learnt that networking should not be limited to one’s country, but it should be international so as to attain global experience (Nguyen &Nguyen 2006, pp. 21-26). This was evident in the kind of networking that some of the foreign speakers had and created in the event. Since then, I began to appreciate social networking sites, such as, Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, for it facilitating global networking; hence promoting international relations. Therefore, I found that the speeches so informative that I decided to attend many of them in future. Networking is quiet essential for anyone intending to succeed in professional and personal lives. Conclusion Evidently, the idea of keeping a journal was instrumental in the recording and reflection of the course’s lessons on global experience. Through attending cultural event, seminar, conference, class discussions, and guest speeches, I managed to attain a great deal of knowledge and skills on intercultural communication, networking, and career management. References Bambacas, M & Bordia, P 2009, ‘Predicting Different Commitment Components: the Relative Effects of How Career Development HRM Practices Are Perceived’, Journal of Management and Organization, vol. 15, no. 7, pp. 9-18. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5037767932 Guffey, M 2011, Business communication: process and product, South-Western/Cengage Learning, Mason, OH. Pp.80-90. Lussier, R 2009, Management fundamentals: concepts, applications, skill development, South-Western, Mason, OH. pp. 267-274. Nguyen, T &Nguyen, TD 2006, ‘Authorship Ethics: Issues and Suggested Guidelines for the Helping Professions’, Counseling and Values, vol. 50, no.3, pp. 21-26. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5022918827 Rashid, H & Zhao, L 2010, ‘The Significance of Career Commitment in Generating Commitment to Organizational Change among Information Technology Personnel’, Academy of Information and Management Sciences Journal, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 20-24. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5045929179 Sadri, H 2011, Intercultural communication: a new approach to international relations and global challenges, Continuum International Pub, Group Inc. New York. pp. 27-36 Silvia, T 2011, Power performance: multimedia storytelling for journalism and public relations, Wiley-Blackwell, Malden, MA. pp. 10-20. Stumpf, SA 2007, ‘Development of the Relationship Management Survey: a Tool for Assessing Performance and Career Success of Professional Service Professionals’, Journal of Organizational Culture, Communication and Conflict, vol. 11, no.4, pp. 12-17. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5045019594 Read More