LAST ASSIGNMENT: CRITICAL REFLECTION

When the second trimester started, seeing effective communication as one of the modules, my initial thought was ‘what a drag’. Academically, I would prefer to work with numbers, facts, tangible things and problems with an actual answer rather than the intangibles like communication. Reminiscing on the first assignment for effective communication (formal letter – descriptive reflection), 300 words formal writing as an opening gift was astonishing. Nonetheless, I am proud to say that I have tried my best working towards my set goals: “express my thoughts clearly and concisely while presenting myself confidently”. However, there is always room for improvement – quoting from Professor Somrita in every individual feedback session. I assess that I have improved my communication skills, be it writing or verbal communication, thanks to various tutorial classes and assignments. It is daunting and arduous, but I recognize that practicing, reading professional writings, receiving feedback and critically analysing someone else’s work is beneficial in this module. Additionally, it allows me to understand my flaws better and cater an avenue to improve myself in an institutional environment before embarking into the harsh working environment.

For example, protected timeslots were catered to give our classmates peer review and concurrently receive feedback. Although time-consuming, the returns were valuable for both parties. When giving someone feedback, it forces us to think critically while learning from another writing style. Having the ability to identify someone’s mistake allows me to pinpoint my shortcoming and grow overall.

During one of the tutorial classes, I remember vividly when Professor Somrita emphasized the importance of communication and I concur with that thought. I used to work with engineers in the 40s, having a plethora of experience but fails to express their thoughts adequately. In this day and age, the conduct and the ability to properly present are indispensable skills, more than just having good qualifications.   

The most memorable moment of this module is doing the final assignment (technical report). It provides a holistic experience as it requires teamwork, solving engineering problems, academic writing, and presenting formally. From brainstorming real problems to generating innovative solutions and subsequently translating into academic writing, the ordeal was painful but rewarding. For instance, the presentation was supposed to simulate addressing to stakeholders and it differs from day-to-day conversation. I have to be conversant with my content and express my thoughts fluently in a concise manner. If the content is lengthy and monotonous, I will be unable to catch my audience’s attention. On the contrary, if my content is vague, the ideas will be unclear and show unpreparedness. On top of that, confidence plays a crucial role in presentation. Fortunately, my team did a few rehearsals to minimise potential mistakes and increase our confidence level. Ultimately, my shortcomings still hit me hard – speaking at a fast pace. In the past, I used to talk faster as I worked in a fast-paced environment with a tight schedule on a daily basis, and it has become a habit. Besides presentation skills, I still need to work on writing concisely and clearly. Further reading and practice is the way forward, on the road to upgrade myself in communicating effectively. Currently, I am trying to make reading newspapers a habit to diversify my knowledge and writing skills.

In summary, I have learned a fair amount of communication skills through the technicalities and putting them to action. Evaluating my goals, I believed that I had refined myself, but much remains to be accomplished. Communication is an essential skill in most circumstances, and this module certainly strengthened my foundation in communicating effectively.