Blog #2

 Good morning in the morning,

Last time I was too busy because I was at the gym, now I’m way too busy because I’m at

work! Even so, I couldn’t resist taking the time to dive into a topic that I find crucial—

communication. Not just in our personal lives but how it plays a huge role in the world at large.

Communication is a powerful tool, and it's so much more than just talking. You see it in the way

a child raises their hand in class, trying to get the teacher’s attention, or in the way a friend

texts you “I’m here!” when they arrive, even though you already saw them walk in. And of

course, you experience it every time I give a presentation. One thing is clear: communication

skills are not just important, they are essential to succeeding in life. Whether it’s verbal or non-

verbal, communication goes beyond just conversing—it’s about forming ideas, expressing

emotions, solving problems, and, above all, building relationships. Developing these skills is not

easy. For instance, it took me a long time to figure out how to build connections with people

from different cultural backgrounds. As an African, I sometimes found it challenging to relate to

certain groups, but with time, I improved my ability to connect, strengthen my empathy, and

build more confidence in expressing myself. Thankfully, you won’t have to go through the same

learning curve that I did. The presentations I’ll discuss today will provide you with tools to

develop these communication skills much faster than I ever did. These presentations focus on

different ways to approach public speaking, and I’ll be giving feedback on what each group did

well, what could have been improved, and what could’ve been handled better. Just like Albert

Einstein said, “You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it.” In order to

learn, we need to shift our mindset. So, let’s open our minds and get into it!

Group 1 (my favorite) pointed out the connection between mental health and education.

Two very important factors that can affect our way to effectively communicate. Group 1

interviewed teachers that dealt with mental health and education. The teachers were experts

and provided valid points which we must consider when it comes to communication. Not only

did they speak about how mental health and education affect speech but how speech affects

our emotional well-being and learning experience. The questions which the first group asked

helped the teachers go more into depth and help you really understand. Aside from the

teachers providing great examples, the presenters themselves gave great examples as well.

Sometimes the best way to help someone learn is to give them relatable examples and group 1

did just that. Although group 1 did great they of course had areas where they could’ve improved

on for sure. I believe some presenters could’ve presented less (me). Although providing

information is great, too much information could lose the focus of your audience. The term

overfeeding is the best way to explain this. Some slides had too many words as well. Sometimes

too many words can overcrowd the reader. Imagine reading an essay that’s 10 paragraphs

instead of 5 on limited time. Aside from that, very examples and amazing attitude.

Group 2’s presentation went well. Group 2 emphasized the importance of social life and

family. Various points were presented, like how communication strengthens relationships and

builds meaningful connections. How do you expect to make friends if you can’t express yourself

in the correct manner? Group 2 had also asked amazing questions regarding their topic. One of

the key details that group 2 did well in had us jealous of was eye contact. Eye contact is

extremely important to hold one’s attention. Group 2 presenters made everything extremely

professional with eye contact. Although eye contact is great, I’ll tell you what isn’t. Too... Many...

Words! Too many words to reiterate: Will cause the reader to be fed too much information. It’s

hard to listen to a presenter and read something at the same time. It can cause you to lose

focus and doze off. Although there were too many words in the presentation I’ll have to say,

group 2’s presentation hit the mark and did everything excellently. No more complaints from

here

Group 3’s presentation explored economy and potential careers. Two topics which are

just like the last topics affected a lot by communication. Financial literacy, job opportunities, and

professional careers are just some of the things that can affect/be affected by communication.

Group 3 did amazing in the fact that they used mostly pictures instead of text. Using pictures

while presenting allows the reader to visualize what you’re trying to get across. Just seeing a

picture makes you imagine yourself in your head. Sadly what made group 3 less engaging was

two things. The lack of eye contact and monotone attitude. Some presenters could’ve done a

better job of setting their notes in front of them instead of to the side. Learning about the

economy and potential careers are affected by communication is essential to learn since it’s

such a complicated topic. Group 3 made sure to express their points in a way where it wasn’t

complicated without overfilling you with information. Some would say their communication was

on point haha.

All groups did amazing and they effectively made me feel like I wasn’t wasting my time

listening to someone. All groups did great when it comes to getting their point across. You can

tell everyone had responsibly practiced and we’re eager to share their points. We should all look

to improve on the slides themselves though. All the groups should’ve definitely used less words

and more pictures to help the listener visualize. Remember, one of the best ways to get your

point across is to make your topic relatable. News articles do it all the time with the picture they

use in the front. It helps you paint a picture in your head of the tone as well if it affects you.