Final reflection on learning

The semester has finally come to an end. I am really glad that I have taken the module ES2007S: Professional Communication. I have learned a lot of things from the module, not only from the tutor – Ms Lim but from the classmates as well. For example, I have learned about techniques on writing application letter, proposal and resume not to mention that I also learned about the tips on oral presentation.

The most fruitful knowledge that I gained from this course is through project proposal. In producing the project proposal, I had worked closely with my team mates and realized the importance of group work. From the very beginning of getting a topic for our proposal till the submission of our project proposal, we had been having meeting to discuss our project, refining the proposal draft and rushing the proposal before deadline. It would be taxing and time-consuming if these were to be done by individual work. With team work, we are able to distribute the job scopes evenly to do research on the our proposal topic, edit and refine the proposal draft, proofread the proposal draft together and correct each other when there was anything went wrong. We cannot possibly come out with a complete project proposal without the contribution from every team mates.

Besides that, I have also understood that patience and tolerance are also important elements in professional communication. There was time when I was so frustrated on refining the student survey’s questions and the proposal draft as there was so much editing work to do on the proposal draft. However, I have learnt to be patient and tolerant with the work and be resilient on working it. Eventually, patience and tolerance has helped my team mates and I in working out a better piece of complete proposal.

In a nutshell, this module (Professional Communication) has widened my knowledge and perspectives. This module has also enlightened me in some ways when dealing with people while communicating. For example, we have to be positive and thoughtful while communicating. I am really grateful that I have taken this module, met new people and learned from them. 

Reflection on Oral Presentation

After the presentation on Thursday, I have done some reflection on my performance that day. I am indeed very nervous on this oral presentation if compare to the previous peer teaching session. Perhaps I felt that I am over- concerned on the question and answer session that makes me somehow off focus from my presentation. This is something I need to aware of as being steady and calm can maximize the performance, else, all the hard work will turn to be nothing.

Besides, I felt that I need to do more rehearsal on the presentation to make sure the flow of my presentation. Though I am quite familiar with the presenting materials, I have stumbled through my presentation due to my (lack of accuracy)pronunciations and grammar mistakes which are the fields that I need to pay more attention to improve. In my opinion, I felt that I am paying too much attention on how I phrase the presenting materials according to the way that I have scripted it down. Perhaps, I should have just be more natural and flexible on the spot instead of following the script exactly on what I should say.

For eye-contact wise, I should have done more frequent eye-contacts to the audience instead of the camera as I tend to look into the camera. Xp This is something new that I have discovered through this experience of presentation using recorder.

I felt that I did not take out my best performance on the presentation day itself. I felt quite regretful about it. Taking it as an experience, I shall be more prepared for presentation next time and take into account the time management of the presentation. Though it is a mess (for my part…hahaaha…), I enjoyed the closure of presentation with saxophone performance entitled “First Love” by Julian. That does cheer me up, though it may seems not professional.

I am really glad that I have learnt a lot through this module. The best thing is I can learn from mistakes and others’ strength.

The best summer in Costa Rica

Last summer is my best summer ever as I have spent my meaningful 7 weeks in a beautiful country called Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a Spanish speaking country located in the Central America bordered by Pacific Ocean to the west and Caribbean Sea to the east. To tell the truth, I never know about the country - Costa Rica until I was selected to join NUS Biodiversity Research Field Trip Summer Program. The Summer Program not only enhances my knowledge and experience, but also helps me to realize the importance of communication and the vital role of Emotional Quotient (EQ) in communication.

The exchange experience and culture exchange with the local in Costa Rica had taught me a lot of things and widens my perspective on things. One of the intercultural scenarios that had inspired me was the classroom culture in the University of Costa Rica. By comparing Singapore’s classroom culture and Costa Rica’s classroom culture, there are some cultural differences. Firstly, unlike in Singapore, the professors in Costa Rica will be more engaging with the class (may be due to small classroom size which is like our secondary classroom). In the class, the professors will also encourage the students to ask questions, apply the knowledge they gained and think critically on different perspectives about the topics they discuss, then challenge and debate with the students about their opinions to provoke more intellectual breakthrough among themselves. This is very much different from Singapore in which the students generally take in all the facts that we learn in university and forget most of it after the examinations. 


Another thing that impressed me about the students and professors in Costa Rica is that they are very passionate on what they are doing and studying.

You can feel their enthusiasm and being influenced by it, this will motivate you to enjoy the learning process. What the outcome they would like to see is that you understand what you are learning and enjoy every single learning process through asking questions and thinking.

From what I have experienced in Costa Rica, there are a few tips that can improve in effective intercultural communication. To be competent in intercultural communication, you have to be open-minded to a new culture, do not discriminate, do not do assumptions on people and always be proactive and take the initiative to talk to people. It is the same case when you first get to know a friend. If you keep shielding yourself in your own bubble, you will know no one in the end.


 In my opinion, to be immersed in a new culture, you can learn a lot of things from the people of the other culture and realize the differences. The best part is that you will have a brand new view on your life and improve your personal development through the experience you went through and learnt from the other culture. For example, I have learnt to be more helpful and to be more engaging in the class. =)

Application Letter

Medical / Laboratory Technologists SGH/ACSS/0911/053 Posted Date: 1 Sep 11
The Job  You will perform laboratory tests, assist in preparing various types of media as well as receive and process specimens, including carrying out specialised investigations of patient samples. In addition, you will perform on-going quality control checks to ensure test results are precise and accurate. You may work in one of the following laboratories in the Department of Pathology:- Specialties: ·         Bacteriology ·         Biochemistry ·         Blood Banking ·         Cytogenetics ·         Cytology ·         Histopathology ·         Immunology & Serology ·         Molecular ·         Pharmaceutical Microbiology ·         TB laboratory ·         Virology Requirements:  Degree or Diploma in Biomedical Science, Life Sciences or its equivalent Candidates with relevant work experience may be considered for senior positions Fresh graduates are welcome to apply May be required to work shifts, weekends and holidays, as scheduled
Education Level	Diploma
Job Category	Allied Health, Laboratory, Life Sciences
Job Location	Singapore-Any
Job Type	Full Time , Part Time , Permanent, Contract
Consider Fresh Graduate Application	Yes
We regret only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

SGH offers you a challenging career with unlimited opportunities. Come join our team and make a difference in the lives of people.

Yew Xin Ying
Blk 350, Clementi Ave 2, #03-35
Singapore, 120350.
Cell: 91359772
Email: xinying.yew@gmail.com

9^th September 2011

SINGAPORE GENERAL HOSPITAL

Outram Road

Singapore 169608.

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I am writing to express my interest in applying the position of Medical / Laboratory Technologists in the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) which I came across in SGH internet portal recently. I will be graduating from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a Bachelor of Science in Life Science in 2012. I believe that I would be a suitable candidate for this job position with my years of learning in related field in NUS.

In my years of study in NUS, I have worked with a Bioinformatics mini project. In that project, I have performed BLAST sequencing using BLAST software and I have worked with a team of 5 colleagues to update T3SE protein database. Thus, I am comfortable to work with other people in the laboratories as well as others from other units.

In additional to that, I have undertaken Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS). It is a programme that has given me the opportunity to work in a research environment. I have learnt to perform cell subculture, SDS PAGE, PCR, ChIP, real time PCR and western blotting. I believe with the skills that I have learnt through UROPS, I would be able to handle the laboratory tests meticulously and independently in order to provide accurate results.

 For your information, I have participated in a biodiversity field trip research programme in Costa Rica. I have carried out some experiments in the night such as gaining data about sea turtles and bats at night. I am able to work shifts if required to do so. I believe I can contribute the knowledge and skills of my specialisation which is biomedical science to the hospital. I am keen in working in SGH which I believe it would be an inspiring working environment to provide me opportunities to learn and improve myself. It would be an honour to work with other elites in a prestigious hospital like SGH.

I do hope that you will look favourably at my application. Please find my enclosed resume for your review. I can be reached anytime via email at xinying.yew@gmail.com or my mobile phone number, 91359772. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time.

Yours Faithfully,

Yew Xin Ying

Resolving interpersonal conflict

I still can remember vividly what Ms Lim (teacher of the class professional communication) had told us about Emotional intelligence (EQ) in the class. She said:” 80% of your success depends on your Emotional intelligence (EQ) and 20% of your success contributed by your Intelligence Quotient (IQ)”. The first thing came across my mind was what is EQ? what define EQ? People have always been talking about EQ, but the term EQ actually seems very vague and abstract to me.  Then I did a quick search on Google search engine to get a quick glimpse on its definition.

“Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, use, understand, and manage your emotions in positive and constructive ways. It's about recognizing your own emotional state and the emotional states of others. Emotional intelligence is also about engaging with others in ways that draw people to you.”

It actually makes sense that EQ shapes a person’s success. In my opinion, how a person succeeds is depending on how well a person is fitted in a community. We are living in a social world which comprised of people of different interests, perspectives, social background and etc. Since everyone is quite different from each other, without communication, we possibly cannot fit in well in the society. Hence, interpersonal skills come in handy to help people to interact with each other but it is not an easy task.

Inevitably, most of us always encounter interpersonal conflicts with our friends, family or colleagues. There is a live example about interpersonal conflict that I have had with my friend, Mr A.

Mr. A is an ambitious undergraduate like us who wants to become a BIG boss in the future and he has always worked hard towards his goal (do internships, do start up business, join investment clubs, join business trips and etc). It is a good thing that he has the passion on doing these. As a friend, I am fully supporting him towards his dream. However, there are some weaknesses of him that somehow irritate me. First, he thinks that to become a boss he must think like a boss. So, sometimes he tends to promise an empty promise. For example, once, a friend B had ordered 50 club shirts from his family business. He ensured the friend B to meet her requirements. At the end, what B gets are shirts with some typing error and shirts which are not in the size that B wants.

Besides, every time when a bunch of friends are throwing gathering or asking him out, he will definitely be late for it (almost up to one hour). The reason being is that he is busy about his business or whatever meetings. Once in a while is ok for us, but that is like every time. In my opinion, if you are too busy with your business, you  can just tell us that you could not make it instead of making promise that you will come on time and yet making everyone to wait for you and hence wasting everybody else’s times. In fact, I did tell him about his weaknesses politely and privately (so that he would not feel embarrass in front of other friends). He replied that he will improve yet still the same old him again. How to feedback to him again as I have tried before once but failed?

                

The importance of effective communication skills

After the ES2007S lesson on last Thursday, I realized that effective communication skills are really important in our daily life such as in the context of building relationships and maintain quality relationships with your family members, friends, employers, employees and others. Without effective communication skills, we can hardly convey the messages that we wish to deliver across to the targeted audience. Also, we might encounter misunderstanding and confusion without effective communication.

If you ever thought that communication is an easy task by just speaking out what you want to say, then you would be wrong. Communication is not only comprised of verbal communication but also non-verbal components which are the body language, gestures, eyes contact and others. It is not as simple as you think it is. For example, during a conversation, the effectiveness of message to be received by the listener also takes into account the tone of the speaker deliver the message, the emotions of the speaker, the feedback from the listener and etc.

In my opinion, to master communication skills, it requires life-long learning and experience in interacting with the people. From there, you can put your communication skills in practical and at the same time do refinement to it if you found that the skills can be further improved to communicate with people. Besides, it is always good that you think before saying something and being thoughtful when you communicate with people in order to achieve a more effective communication so that it would not hurt people’s feeling and deteriorate the relationship.

In a conclusion, to achieve effective communication, it’s good that we always think critically and rationally before we speak. In addition to it, we must not be afraid to make mistake, must not be afraid to speak out and be open-minded to accept the weaknesses and mistakes that made. Later on, make improvement from the mistakes and weaknesses.