Post #4: Evaluating Intercultural Behavior

Language is the beginning of every culture, and I guess Singlish is just a symbol of mixed culture. American English, British English, Indian English, Chinglish; each has its own distinctiveness and glamour, and Singlish is one of the most peculiar accent I’ve ever met.

When I first came to this country two months ago, I’m so glad to find that almost 80% of locals here can speak Chinese, although they shyly admit that their speaking Chinese is better than written Chinese. So the first two weeks before the semester begins was like paradise on earth for me, since there is no communication obstruction at all. But when I enter the lecture theater after August 13^th, it was just like stepping into the Tower of Babel. I know we are talking the same language, point is I just can’t understand it. The most horrible moment is when the teacher makes a joke and everyone around me starts to laugh, it makes me feel embarrassed since I can’t get any point of the joke.

During the first two weeks, the incomprehensible Singlish became the eternal topic after dinner among my exchange schoolmates. It’s like a question stuck in my heart: why can’t they just speak English properly!

One day I threw this question to a local I’m familiar with, and his answer made me think a lot. He said Singlish is just an accent, just like the accent of American English, Indian English and Chinese English. It’s just an accent.

I suddenly realized that I used to consider Singlish inferior to some other "formal" accent like American accent, which is so ridiculous that it reminds me of racists, of people that regard their culture superior to other cultures like Nazi Germany. Since then, I am more adaptable to the accent around me and if I don't understand I would just ask the speaker to slow down and finally I can appreciate the beauty of Singlish. What an amazing experience.

#3 Application Letter Critique

Wu Dingding

210 Zhengsu Rd #5-012

Shanghai, 200433
+86 18801735212

wdd009@gmail.com

September 12, 2012

Professor Huang Jiping

Fudan University

Department of Physics

220 Handan Rd Guanghua Bld #23-17

Shanghai, 200433

Dear Prof. Huang Jiping,

I am interested in applying for the scientific research internship position for undergraduate student that was listed in your research website.

I am pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Science (Physics) in Fudan University and am currently studying at the National University of Singapore as an exchange student. I have had a great deal of physical experimental experience in my first 2 years. In the lab, I have performed excellently and I am skillful with mathematical software such as Matlab and Origin in the analysis of statistics. I had built a solid foundation on the physics frame of Theoretical Studies, which allows me to be able to take in new concepts in your research field easily.

I am also interested in Research and Development. I worked as an R & D assistant at Fujian wanban Optoelectronics CO., LTD last summer and I assisted the R & D manager in the development of a new technology, whereby the economic life of LED bulb is increased and that innovation have the potential to save up to more than $5000 in total. During my days in my senior high school, I made a new style of multifunctional glasses that was equipped with rearview mirrors to allow for rearviewing and with the addition of double polarizers which can control the light intensity. I believe that my technical experience and passion towards R&D would be an asset to your program.

I believe my education and technical experience will set me as a very competitive and ideal candidate for this research position. This internship would provide me with the ideal opportunity to assist at your research program and to expand my research skills.

I hope you will look favorably at my application and I look forward to speaking with you regarding.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours Sincerely,

Wu Dingding

#2 Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

the story of the three monks

In this blog I will tell you the story of the three monks, which is a well-known fairy tale in China. But it will be a little different from the one I was told when I was a child.

Once upon a time, there was a temple on the top of a hill. In the temple, there was a tall monk who lived a simple and happy life. Every day he needed to haul two buckets of water up the hill from the foot of the mountain. Life was quiet and peaceful then.

the tall monk hauling two buckets of water

One day, a short monk passed by the temple. He appreciated the beautiful view of the mountain and asked to live here, and the tall monk agreed.

However when the short monk asked for some water to drink, the tall monk refused. He said it was not an easy job to haul water up the mountain. If the short monk wanted to drink water, he had to haul water by himself and share the water with him.

The short monk refused to do so because he was too short to haul water by himself, and he insisted that the tall monk should share the water with him because he was the guest.

They began to quarrel and neither of them wanted to compromise since they were both of egoistic character who stuck to their own ideas that the other person should serve for him.

At the end of first day, neither of them went down the hill to haul water so there was no water to drink.

The next day, they were so thirsty that they finally agreed to share the job with each other. But the pole that the tall monk used to haul water is only long enough for one bucket if the job was shared by two persons. So now they had to haul water twice instead of once to get the previous two buckets of water. Both of them felt unhappy about it but still had to accept that.

the tall and short monks sharing their job

Several days later, there came another fat monk. He was impressed by the beautiful sky over the mountain and decided to live in the temple as well.

The short and the tall monk agreed.

However when the fat monk asked two fellows to get some water for him, the faces of short and tall monks turned green. The tall monk put the bucket aside and said that if the fat monk wanted to drink water, he had to haul water by himself or haul it with the short monk and then share the water with him.

The short monk disagreed and protested that he was the weakest monk and the job should be done by the two other fellows.

Since there was only one carry pole which could be carried by maximally 2 persons, they couldn’t share the work anymore. Later they fell into a bitter quarrel.

three monks falling into a terrible fight

They kept pointing out other two’s selfishness and repeated their own excuses for not taking this job again and again. Their ego prevented them from considering other possible options and working out the best solution that the three of them could accept

Soon the interpersonal conflict intensified. Gradually the conflict started to become aggressive since neither of the three wanted to give in. During this conflict, the monks started getting angry and impatient with each other. Therefore curses were exchanged and they started raising their voices. They were so engrossed in their little conflict that they thoroughly forgot to haul the water first.

Unfortunately at that night the temple caught fire and burned everything they had. The poor monks didn’t have a drip of water to put out the fire and save their belongings. Finally they had to leave the temple, bankrupted.

 three monks leaving the temple, bankrupted

After reading this story, my friends, what do you think of these three monks who could have avoided this disaster, and what solution could you give to resolve this unfortunate interpersonal conflict?

Reference: http://loshinicantstoptalking.blogspot.sg/

Post #1 Why effective communication skills are important for me

No man is an island, entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.
                                                                                     ———— John Donne
In general, communication means exchange of information between people. Five senses and body are the main transmitters and receivers of information. For a lot of people, communication is easy because they can at least present what they think in a way that can be understood. But for me, communication with people is a disaster.

When I was young, communication with people was really a tough job because I'm quite introverted. I was too shy to say anything in public. From time to time I would picture that I made mistakes during my speech and everybody laughed at me, which was unbearable for a boy armed with strong inferiority. At that time, I would write a script before my speech and tried to recite every word to present a "confident" and "fluent" speech because I felt that when I talked, I was not able to think. It is really non-efficient and it blocks my way to progress in communication.

Even now, my diction is poor and my speech is short of logic when I speak. Listener may not know what I'm talking about even after I have explained it in native language. This is really excruciating because I want to express my ideas clearly and correctly. I'm not inclined to be a "silent type" and I'm really in urgent need of some skills to be a clear speaker to articulate my ideas in a manner that is easily understood.This is why I took the course.

Effective communication skills can be very helpful when I encounter different situations in Singapore. When I go out for shopping, I may use gestures to show something I can't name. When I meet with an indigenous Singaporean, I will try to talk to him in different languages to make my thoughts understood. Since I don't know English well, communication in English is a challenge for me. Effective communication skills can help me ease the transition into English speaking world.

All in all, effective communication skills are the ones I would most like to master here.

Edited Wednesday, Aug 29, 2012