Reflective writing-barriers to communication - Essay Example

(Project (Day Month Reflective Writing Barriers to Communication We all followed Mr. Roberts to the Dialysis Department. We had been analyzing and observing the patients in this ward for the past one week. Mr. Roberts would take us to the patients and explain to us the treatments being performed on them. His method was somewhat different and competitive. He had divided us in a group of two. He would ask us open ended questions, while we would observe the patient and appreciate intelligent speaking by members of the groups.

He adds and docks points for the winners and losers of the discussion respectively. This meant a lot to every one of us since it has weight age in the final evaluations. In short it was compulsory to speak up if we wanted any points. During one of these sessions, I realized the seriousness of my communication problem and its consequences on my personality respectively. I am a medical student. I was fortunate enough to be enrolled in one of the prestigious medical international institutes. I am a foreigner here.

The native language is English and I have yet to have a firm grasp on my English fluency. Mr. Roberts or some other professor would ask us questions. Many times I found myself assured that I know the right answer, but when I tried to state it to my teacher among the discussions, I felt gripped by a fear of embarrassing myself by speaking wrong or funny English. We are encouraged to counter each other’s ideas or suggestions intelligently. I know I have good knowledge and the right aptitude for medicine.

But in such situations I used to feel unconfident and embarrassed that I will end up looking like a fool in the end, since one of my mates will have some counter argument and I will fail to properly convey my answer to them. I realized the importance of effective communication. I wished I had a firm grasp of English language, because it meant that only then I will have all the confidence in this world. When the conveyed message is received clearly and there are no or fewer ambiguities then this is called effective communication (Pillai n.p.).

I, being a foreigner, was the potential candidate for people’s speculation. Our teacher had asked us to be a part of the groups of our choice. I learnt that people from both groups were reluctant to include me in their group. They felt weird about me covering my head with a scarf. This was a new thing in their culture. To them my outlook was conservative and it gave them the idea that I will be uptight, inflexible and rigid, not to mention unfriendly. I found myself being placed in one of the groups by Dr.

Roberts since none of the groups could agree on my inclusion. I grew more conscious of what I spoke because I was afraid of letting my group down. They already didn’t appreciate me much, where as I wanted to be an insider. Thus, this stereotyping gave people assumptions about me that weren’t necessarily true. Stereotyping leads to a decline in open mindedness, unbiased thinking and clear observations (Ervin 3-4). I want to ask the hospital staff valuable stuff regarding working in a hospital but usually these people do not have the time and patience to take time out to understand me and then explain.

I have learnt that learning the native language and getting used to of the new work environment is a time taking process. Meanwhile, I compensate my problems by working hard and showing my teachers my best output. I maintain a good conduct and behavior as a non verbal way to communicate the side of my personality which has been hindered by stereotyping. Works Cited Ervin, Bernard L. "Overcoming Barriers to Communicaton." Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics Ohio State Universty (n.d.): 3-4.

Pillai, Maya. Buzzle.com Intelligent Life on the Web. 22 September 2008. 6 April 2011 .