Blog #4, All Classes...this means YOU!!!

With the early spring break right around the corner, let's get a little bit silly here, otherwise serious scholars...Storytelling is a unique way to color your speeches and reports. It offers an imaginative attention getting angle or provides a way to tie a narrative together throughout the speech. It can make any dull report seem unique and personal. Coms theorists tell us that this is because stories remind us of universal myths we can all connect with. I'll start a story and I want each person to add at least 3 sentences, no more than 6--keep it clean, but goofy is ok...then we'll talk about it in class. Class, remember, that thing you are supposed to come to on Monday, Wed and/or Thurs??? HELLO!!!!! Check your alarm clocks and calendars people, we've had some serious empty seats this week, remember, according to my syllabus, you get points for simply attending class, and lose them each time you don't! Wear your pj's, bring your pillow, slam the coffee, whatever it takes!!! GET YOUR 'SASS TA CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our 2008 masterpiece Story begins like this:

Reginald knew it was going to be a bad day when an abandonned trailer unhitched, slid down a hill into his backyard and ran over his Communication textbook...

Culture and Communication

Hi Fabulous Students!

How was your prez-holiday? Good, I hope! This week we'll start to focus on culture and how it influences speech making, both styles and language as well as audience norms. Share a few lines here about a celebration in your culture, how it is significant and how people communicate during this holiday or event (ie:do they sing, tell stories, dance, etc) --I want to say that the time my car broke down on Highway 5 back in the 90's and I had to walk off of the freeway on foot to wait for my Dad to come and help me, I somehow ended up at a loud Jamaican wedding in Elk Grove/Florin area, and it was so much fun I nearly forgot I had a flat tire! I learned so much about that culture, the special dances that are significant, the warm sense of family, and the treatment of time--it is SO different than western weddings, the celebration lasted all day and night!! No one was in a hurry and everybody seemed happy and relaxed! Plus, the food was awesome! Especially plantains! I liked this event so much, a few years later I went on a trip to Jamaica to see the place for myself. It was just a s beautiful as the people who helped me feel so welcome that night my car broke down! OK--Your turn!!!

Spring 2008 Blog #2: Getting a laugh

Hi Gang! Humor is a great way to warm up an audience, or provide an attention getter or "hook" to open your speech or presentation. As long as it is appropriate, of course! For this blog, pretend you are planning to speak to a group about either fashion or sports (pick one, or BOTH!) State yopur speech topic and then provide a 3 or 4 sentence -- funny opening remark you could make to invite the audience to focus on your words..... Quotations, clean and PC jokes (no slurs or profanity) and or funny stories all work for this blog, and people love self depricating humor (making fun of yourself) So--give it a try, remember, people who can get a laugh usually relax both themselves and their audience, which helps with speech anxiety too! HAhahahahahahaha...HAHAHAhahahahah.......

Communication Anxiety: YIKES!!!

Thanks for some great classes last week, the semester is off to a great start, I am happy to be working with such unique and bright individuals, thanks for signing up for my class!!! SOOO...We all get nervous before we speak, at least a little bit and especially in front of a crowd! Why? Uncertainty,
lack of preperation,
a defeated attitude,
negative self talk
unrealistic goals, (according to Scott and Brydon, 2008))

Sooooo....tell us about a time you had to take the stage despite nervousness and talk/sing/act/make a toast or perform in some way for an audience...how did it go? Can't think of one, describe being in the audience for one then....What went wrong? What went well? Was it funny? Scary? Exciting? One thing is for sure, you survived cuz you're here now! Take strength from each others' stories and remember, "we are all in this together!" Whether you're in public speaking or coms experience, you will be in front of the class making a speech or presentation soon, so, "Let the healing begin!!!" (Quote from Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting)