FOP experience

Being not a natural good speaker, I never enjoy presenting especially infront of many people. However, I felt something different for my FOP experience. I felt that my FOP experience was interesting and I enjoyed it.

Due to the fact that FOP is an individual presentation and I was up against strong competitors, I was indeed more nervous as compared to my GT presentation. Despite the fact that I was more nervous, I was also more confidence and had better control over my presentation.  The reason being that the report was written by me and supported with the research I have conducted. Hence, I was very familiar with the content and had lesser problems internalizing the content.

I have received feedbacks that I was better in controlling my pacing and volume. However, there are still rooms of improvements for my pacing and pronunciations. Even though I still feel awkward about presenting infront of many people, my FOP experience has increase my confidence in presentation. 

GT Experience

My GT presentation was a fruitful experience to me.

First of all, I saw improvements in my presentation skills. I was able to deliver the content more naturally and with more confidence by applying the presentations tips and practicing without a script.

Secondly, I was able to clearly see my areas of weaknesses through the constructive comments I received and my own reviews of my presentation from the video filmed. I find that filming down my presentation is really useful for me to look back and reflect on myself. Watching the video allows me to put myself in the audience’s position to objectively evaluate myself.

The two main areas of my weaknesses lie with my pacing and nervousness. I was always being told that my presentations are too fast which in turn compromise the clarity of my presentations. In addition, there is always evident nervousness in my presentations. Again, these issues occurred to me in the GT presentation. Though I was not the fastest presenter, it is evident that my pronunciations are greatly affected by my pacing.  Besides, I was also nervous which causes some stuttering and affect the clarity of my presentation.

However, I am not disheartened by these issues. In fact, the GT experience boasts my confidence and greatly motivates me improve on my presentation skills. 

PPQ and outline for report writing

PPQ

Problem: Should NUS faculty and students be allowed to befriend each other on Facebook?

Purpose: To analyse the possible effects and consequences of allowing them to befriend each other on Facebook in order to express views and comment on the feasibility of the idea.

Questions:

•  How does it help to improve the faculty-and-student-relationship? What are the things which Facebook can achieve whereby the current communication channels failed to do so?
•  How will the students benefit from it?
• What are the possible consequences?
• Do the students see it as a channel of communication or additional burden for them to participate? How about the teachers?
• Do the students prefer the use of Facebook? What about students who do not use Facebook?
• What are the sensitive issues about Facebook that should be taken into consideration?

Outline of the report

Executive summary

1. Introduction

1.1 Background of the report

1.2 PPQ

1.3 Scope

1.4 Limitations

1.5 Sources and methods

1.6 Report Organisation

2. Findings (Functional)

2.1 Role of Facebook in the faculty-and-student-relationship

2.2 Benefits Vs. Consequences

2.3 Issues to be highlighted

3. Conclusions (according to findings)

4. Recommendations

5. Overall Conclusion

Resolving interpersonal conflict

Conflicts happen often, especially when each parties wants the best for the situation but in their own ways.

The biggest conflict I ever had was with one of my groupmates over our final year project. As it was our final year project and we had to compete with another group, we were very tensed up and stressed about it. Despite having to commit to our attachments, we put in a lot of efforts and was very determined to do well for the project. As a result, we sacrificed our sleeping time and burnt our weekends while being tired and time-strapped.

The conflict happened on a Sunday night where we have to get up early in the morning for the next day of work. We were discussing about a certain part of the project over the phone late at night. It was a part where we felt that does not link well with the rest of the report and had made amendments several times. After several rounds of discussion, I recommended a way to my groupmate who does not agree with it. She insisted that the way is not feasible and firmly rejected my idea. I did not agree with her but compromised as I was tired and wanted to end the argument.  She then told me her idea which sounded to me exactly same as what I recommended.

Feeling tired and grieved, I told her that it was exactly what I said while trying to hold my anger. She sensed the displease from my tone and felt wronged too. From her perspective, I was not clear in my explanation which made her interpreted my idea in a different way. We then started making sarcastic remarks over the phone and it resulted in a serious conflict as we made sensitive comments about each other.

The situation could have be better handled or even avoided if we are more understanding towards each other and be careful in the way we communicated. However, given the situation, how many people will be able to be understanding towards the another party, especially in the absence of non-verbal communication?