Jessica's Communication Exercise - Part 1

a) Academic Work - Communication is the foundation for all things, and how we communicate makes a difference in everythign we do. I don't think that I could find just one thing that I have done over the last 4 years and say that it has helped me better understand communication. I believe that just being a student and interacting with my peers has helped me the most. Being in a major where group interaction is a part of life communication is what keeps us together. We learn about each other and we recognize who is more outspoken and who is shy and quiet. Recognizing others communication styles helps when their is group interaction. If there is a conflict you communicate until it is solved, when there are questions regarding assignments we ask each other and email others until we get an answer. I find that we are affected by communication everyday and you can't just read a book and become better at communicating; you have to work at it until you get it right.


b)Written text - I am sure there are tons of books and articles that I have read that have helped me become better acquainted with communication but the only one that comes to mind right now is "Pride and Prejudice." All throughout the book the characters especially Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet let their pride and ego stand in the way of true love. They would meet at parties and refuse to speak to one another.. saying that the other was dreadful when deep down there was a real interest and relationship developing. This book helped me to see that when you have something to say to someone, set your ego aside and say it. Who cares what others may think or even how that person may feel about you after you've expressed your feelings.. its better to have spoken then to say nothing at all. Understanding that the worst anyone could ever say to you is "no" is worth the risk instead of staying silent and never knowing what could have happened.


c)Non-written text - A movie that makes me better understand the communication competency is "Love Actually." Not only is it my favorite movie but with so many different characters and story lines you see all types of communication. If you've never seen it.. it is a chick flick about people falling in and out of love, and discovering that "Love actually is all around". In the beginning of the movie Sam's mother dies and when he doesn't come out of his room his dad thinks something is terribly wrong.. when he is actually so in love with a girl from his class that he is thinking of a way to impress her, she is "the one" and even tho he's like 10 he learns to play drums to be in the school play to impress her. By the end of the movie he actually speaks to her and she says that she's noticed him since school started. There is also another character played by Colin Firth who finds out his wife is having an affair and then they get a divorce. When he thinks that all hope is lost, he moves to his house in the countryside and falls in love with his housekeeper. The only problem is he speaks English and she speaks Portugese; their communication starts as non-verbal until they learn how to communicate verbally with each other. One more example before I tell the whole movie - Hugh Grant plays the Prime Minister of England and when he meets his new staff their happens to be a pretty girl working for him. Well seeing the obstacle in this relationship he has her sent to help someone else and gets a new staff member. There is obviouslly some unspoken attraction and since the movie is around christmas time she writes to him in a christmas card how she feels about him.. this was her attempt to communicate with him since she didn't see him on a day to day basis.
This movie has helped me understand communication the most becuase there are so many different types exemplified throughout the film. Even when there are challenges and struggles it shows the lengths people go to to communicate and how effective it can be.


In the end communication affects everything we do. It causes us to build relationships and sometimes ruin them, it clarifies what is expected of us, and shows us just how useful speaking to one another can be. Living in a fast paced society we get caught up in e-mails and IMs and sometimes forget how critical effective communication can be.

Works Cited:
"Love Actually." Universal Studios. Working Title Production. 2004. www.loveactually.com

Austen, Jane. "Pride and Prejudice." Bantam Dell. New York, NY. 2003.