SPEECH & ORAL COMMUNICATION 1 **ONLY under my supervision***

DOES COMMUNICATIONS REVOLUTION BENEFIT WOMEN?
By C Martin
November 1999

Can the new communications revolution opening up before our eyes act as a magic-wand for women in Asia to get a better deal?

Telecommunications equipment, the Internet, mass media transmitted via satellite, cable and fibre optics, videotext and fax machines, and databases are opening up new options across the globe.

These new technologies have entered the home. They have influenced not only the individual and family life, but also age-old institutions and values.

Unfortunately, everything is not positive and smooth-sailing. New communications technologies are not as neutral as they first appear to be, says a new book on the subject from the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) of Singapore.

Edited by Ila Joshi, the new book is called Asian Women in the Information Age.
It says: 'Men are considered the first beneficiaries of innovations, while women follow and take over the positions vacated by them. The progress of women is hampered by widespread prejudices regarding their ability to learn and to apply new technology.' In addition, it points out, knowledge and power are concentrated in the hands of the privileged few that own and control the communications system.

This study was done in various Asian countries. It found that India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China provided their people with greater access to media like television. In Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, computer networks are more common. Bangladesh lacks most of these facilities, while Japan has them all.

Yet, in Bangladesh, the new communications technologies are already seen to be making an impact on the lives of some women. A 'Grameen Phone' programme allows rural borrowers, all of whom are women, to buy cellular phones.

Cellular phones, pagers and computers are being used by city-based Sri Lankans every day, whether they are men or women. But this has not solved the special problems being faced by women, and created by war in that island nation. Women have been forced into the role of breadwinners, as men are killed or disabled.

The latest communications technologies have brought the world to Pakistan's doorstep. But the country is still plagued by a low literacy rate and high poverty levels, and its feudal and tribal structure puts women at a distinct disadvantage, and they are not fully able to reap all the benefits of new technologies.

In China - the world's most populous nation - fax machines and the Internet are yet to have widespread penetration. Despite this, new communications technologies are opening up new fields of employment, widening women's perspectives and providing them with a 'frame of reference' to estimate their status in China and around the globe.

In India, the status of women is improving only among the middle-class in urban society. Progress for the lower classes is 'very slow'. New technologies like computers, the Internet and cellphones are available largely in cities, says the AMIC book.

Women's groups in Singapore have tended to use the Internet for publicity and business networking. Women use the communications technology - in particular e-mail and the phone - in an attempt to balance work and home life, too.

'But the social dynamics of teleworking are actually built around, and reinforce, the existing cultural biases that confine women's place to the home,' says the study.
In Malaysia, where the use of computers is widespread, women have been found to have benefited from the modern technologies. They have greater access to information and knowledge.

Thai women say they can get greater power to 'exchange their concerns, opinions, and perceptions' using new technologies. They can also correct, to some extent, the perception of a male-dominated society by participating in government, politics, the business sector and the media industry.

In Indonesia, women feel the new technologies give them a 'better chance to develop'. But the older generation and housewives are not enthusiastic, as they do not have a direct utility for the same.

Only a limited segment of female professionals have been empowered by the new communications technologies, say reports from the Philippines. Most of the rest - like teachers and government servants - lag behind. They are at best marginal users, encoders, telecom operators or administrative assistants.

For the new communciations technologies to be of use to wider segments of the population, and not just a narrow base of society, a lot more needs to be done.

This study suggests the need for policies that work towards equitable access, microcredit or rental programmes, financial cooperation among women, relevant training at the school level, promotion of use in the local language, relevant content, and awareness campaigns among women. - Third World Network Features

--------------------------------------------END----------------------------------------------

SPECIFICATIONS:
1. Cover page
Top- complete name of school; TWO spaces down-SUBJECT name; TWO space down-TITLE of the papert; TWO spaces down-NAME of student; TWO spaces down-NAME of Instructor.

2. You MUST create your OWN title of the reaction paper. IT will count for the grade. Submissions with "REACTION PAPER" as the title will have points deducted.

3. MINIMUM of 3 PAGES EXCLUDING the cover page. IF you plan to submit the minimum number of pages, MAKE SURE that the 3rd page has AT LEAST 3/4 content.

4. Spacing: 1.5; 1inch indentation; justified; size 12 font Times New Roman.

5. DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION is JULY 25, 2009 12noon. You can submit ON or BEFORE the deadline, late submissions will not be accepted.

ENGLISH COMMUNICATION 1 Reaction Paper (for my students ONLY)

BREAKING CULTURAL COMMUNICATION BARRIERS
by sally nulph

We live in a culturally diverse world. People will encounter individuals from different races, religions, and nationalities in their day to day encounters. There is often anxiety surrounding unfamiliar cultures. What manners are acceptable? What will offend a person from a very different background? It can be paralyzing to deal with other people if we do not know what to expect. The following suggestions discussed in the manual, Becoming a Master Student, by Dave Ellis are applicable to people in a variety of settings.

The desire to communicate is the first step in being effective. No matter what tools you gain in cross cultural communication. The desire to connect with another human being is the bond that will express itself clearly. A genuine effort to understand another person goes along way in the path to communication.

Knowing about other cultures will help you develop your skills. Be proactive when approaching a new culture. This is a learned skill which means it will require research, practice, and growth. People from different backgrounds may have varied approaches to conflict management, learning styles, family structure, religion, and most other aspects of life. It is impossible to know the varied systems of all cultures, so approach this process one culture at a time as you meet and deal with new people.

When dealing with diverse people look for similarities. Our goals, dreams, and aspirations may be more alike than our skin color. Parenting approaches may differ, but the common bond of a mother and a child crosses many barriers. Most people have basic needs in common, like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs that suggest all people have physiological, safety, acceptance, self-esteem, and self-actualization needs. Considering these things it is easy to see our essential common ground. And this is where we can begin our comprehension of others.

Put your new information about other people into action. Make a personal inventory of your own biases. Where has your ignorance held you back from appreciating other people? What have you learned that makes this old paradigm obsolete? Help to educate people in your family and group of friends about your new leanings. Be careful. People become attached to their ignorance, and have difficulty accepting new ideas. It may have taken you a while to gain the knowledge necessary to deal with people. Encourage others to be open, but know that information is integrated when a person is ready to accept it. Form alliances with people from different cultures to know what challenges they have dealing with your culture. Help the general community to grow by raising awareness and promoting fair treatment for all people.

It is important as you become a promoter of cross cultural communications that you reach beyond stereotypes. These do not represent the population they seek to identify. It is necessary to evaluate people on an individual basis. Stereotypes often reflect the differences in socioeconomic status, religion, or dialect. These differences are apparent in all races and cannot identify one specific group of people. It is important to suspend judgment, avoid misconceptions, narrow perspectives, and immature reactions. Stereotypes often contain a granule of truth, but this tiny truth cannot characterize an entire culture. Getting the whole picture is being active, and thinking critically about people and their behavior.

Ultimately the barriers that exist between cultures are weak We need desire, information, and the willingness to take interpersonal risks to break them. An individual’s ability to be open to new ideas and new people will go a long way in the process of cross cultural communication. It starts with a smile and acceptance. It leads to an exciting new world full of clarity and connectedness.
----------------------------------------END---------------------------------------------------

SPECIFICATIONS:
1. Cover page
Top- complete name of school; TWO spaces down-SUBJECT name; TWO space down-TITLE of the papert; TWO spaces down-NAME of student; TWO spaces down-NAME of Instructor.

2. You MUST create your OWN title of the reaction paper. IT will count for the grade. Submissions with "REACTION PAPER" as the title will have points deducted.

3. MINIMUM of 3 PAGES EXCLUDING the cover page. IF you plan to submit the minimum number of pages, MAKE SURE that the 3rd page has AT LEAST 3/4 content.

4. Spacing: 1.5; 1inch indentation; justified; size 12 font Times New Roman.

5. DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION is JULY 25, 2009 12noon. You can submit ON or BEFORE the deadline, late submissions will not be accepted.

My name betrayed me

Eversince I can remember there's always something that happens on or before my birthday--most of the time bad. Bad weather. Scratches here and there. Fights (cat fight?).

So, eto and walang kupas na ka-weirduhan...

See the red line on my nose bridge? That's my 'jinxed' version for my 25th birthday--yipeee!

Frog 'accidentally' dropped my name stand on me--he's kinda clumsy. I was on the bed lying down and he was sifting through the cds for the playstation and BAMMMM!! I thought my face was on fire! Sissy that I am for pain, I cried like a baby. Masakit kaya! Considering that the drop was about 4-5ft! OUCHIEEEE!

Ironic that my own name betrayed me haha! my name stand says: BNX (read as BIANX). I asked frog to get me ice and yes indeed he did! he literally got me ONE cube of ice--di ko naman sinabi na ICES hahaha

Now, I'm having this kinda borderline headache and I feel kinda nauseous.

Jinxed. Happy Birthday to me indeed!

p.s. naka-smile pa ako kahit masakit

3AM

Its almost 3AM and I still can't sleep. Just watching the program "conviction" hoping that sleep will come by me. One of the scenes showed a grieving mother and I thought of my Mama. I felt nostalgic and sad instantly.

She died 10 years ago of breast cancer--terminal. A few years back, maybe on the 5th year of her death I still felt and thought that she was just away for a vacation. I still felt that any moment she'll stroll into our sala with the grocery bag--with her disheveled hair, asking if Papa's home already. I miss her.

I sometimes feel guilty and sad that as years pass by I'm slowly forgetting how she looked--maybe even, how she was as our mother. I cry whenever these thoughts some. It makes me feel like a bad daughter--exactly how I feel now.

Just sharing.

24 and RANDOMLY WAITING FOR 25

1. Today's my last day of work. Inabsent ko pa!
2. I was born 2 months premature. My left arm and leg came out first--the doctor (or komadrona?) had to push them back in to get me out properly. I still came out legs first.
3. I love watching investigatory reports, forensics, criminal investigation and criminal-profiling programs. I'm trying to plan THE perfect crime.
4. I'm obsessed with Chocolate-carrot cake *yum yum*
5. I easily get annoyed 'by' and 'with' slow thinkers.
6. You have your planet Earth and I have my own milky way--don't try to visit and say 'you come in peace,' you'll just turn into dust.
7. I love kinilaw na ampalaya.
8. I don't do 'terms of endearment.' Never. I don't call my former BF (now my hubby) pumpkin, babe, beh, mahal...and the list goes on, so just stop.
9. Stilettos. Stilettos. Stilettos.
10. I can't bend down and touch my toes. I'm physically inept.
11. I'll keep arguing with you until I say I'm finished.
12. If I ask you a question and you don't answer me--I'll keep asking the EXACT same question, until you do. Like a parrot. If I don't get the answer that I want, I won't stop asking you either.
13. I haven't drawn for a year and a half.
14. I realized while in Timezone that I have bad 'hand-and-eye' coordination--or none probably!
15. I ONLY and CAN draw women. Men are just too chunky and bulky to draw.
16. I flunked math in college multiple times.
17. I love watching old tag-alog movies. I know you do too so shut-up.
18. I really, really think I should have been born and partying during the 70's. Hippies. Patadyong. Hash. ahlovsit!
19. My Tito, a couple of years back left his RAV4 car for me to use but my Papa wouldn't let me drive it because he said I might drive it through something metal, cement, or a large trunk of tree/s. Finding out after a few months from my Tito that the car had full insurance. So much for cruising the boulevard.
20. I can talk with my friends the whole day and I can be mute for more than a day.
21. I love babies. I'm annoyed with toddlers--I deliberately scare them. One time, I was in MOA reading somewhere, when a little boy hit my leg. He looked at me and smiled. I glared at him and gave him my 'serial killer' look, his smile disappeared and he slowly backed away.
22. Sarcasm = Katrina Bianca Catan-Yamsuan
23. If I don't know you, don't talk to me. You might as well talk to the unfinished cement wall on your left.
24. I will say what I want, when I want to, how I want to say it. Don't expect me to apologize.

PART TWO: REGENT SANTOS

Earlier today, my area manager, HRG representative, regent santos and I had a meeting about the problem. I tried to stay calm but unfortunately, I wasn't. I was asked to talk about the issue. I did--my voice cracking as the words slip from my mouth, tears started falling. last weekend, I thought I was already OK but clearly, I wasn't.

Regent Santos immediatly started talking, bringing up issues that were totally separate or different from the situation. He was trying to force both our AM and HRG rep to take his side and believe him. HE WAS MOCKING ME--worse, he was doing it without hesitation right infornt of the higher OPS! I can't believe this!

Then, the HRG rep asked me, what I want to happen. I told them since I have definite plans already of resigning in 2 weeks, if possible that I be assigned to a different Team Lead. He retorted, 'better make it quick.' I'm not sure if this being has been advsied that during this kinds of 'sessions' professionalism is greatly admired. So, I didn't take notice of him. Our AM was already signalling for him to stop be he just won't. As if he thought that all this was a game or a joke! Amazing how totally detached he is from reality! I wnated to smack him hard until he becomes sensible but, again, this is the time that professionlism is highly regarded.

Finally, the HRG rep said that being transferred to a different team is not an option. We're stuck with each other until I submit my resignation.

But get this! just a while ago, a collegue asked me if last friday--if in any way did i threaten his family. I told her definitely NO! I may be upset but, I'm not that stupid! She said, because Regent Santos said that I did. OH MY FUCKING GOD! He's playing dirty! It prompted more tears but, I collected myself, took calls and informed our AM about it.

PISSED OFF AND F*CKED UP

I'm on the verge of a major breakdown.

It could be the time of year that burn-out is just a stone-throw away (like my mind is, literally!). At the moment, I feel like a fish displaced out of the water--squirming, fighting for my dear life! Odd why I used the fish allegory when I don't even like fish.

Moving forward, I feel like the rest of the crowds are buzzing and speeding away and I abruptly stop and watch them slowly turn into a mirage.

Yesterday, my TM (glorified babysitter) decided to piss me off--all hell broke loose! Let's call him MEMA (MEMA-gawa). So, story is, I got all these little love letters from the management--nothing serious, just workstuff and I got 3 of them in a week alone! I, being a control-freak and an introvert, was fighting with myself on what to do. Eventually, I got frustrated and stressed out. I asked for a day-off to figure things out, absorb everything. MEMA just said, you have to be at work. I told him 'I'm on the brink of submitting an immediate resignation,' connoting that its because of all the stress I've been experiencing--mind you, its not about the lil' love letters, it was just me trying to cope. You know what Mema said to me? 'ok, come in and bring your letter.' This made my forehead wrinkle in all diffrent lines, my head started to feel hot (literally!)!

What an insensitive little prick! Here you have obviously a unmotivated, demoralized and unappreciated employee and you give that crappy statement?! I wanted to strangle him, call him and shout at him. But the grace and poise within me decided that I handle it in a formal or legal way. Besides, I didn't want to waste my plan minutes with the fool, sky-high na celphone bill ko!

I emailed my Area Manager. I deserve to be heard.

p.s. meh mga issues din ako against MEMA before pa, but I thought before that it was all fun and play...UNTIL I GET HURT. Too bad.

Parking Lot Issues

1. If a couple is your 'Ninang or Ninong' in your wedding, are you allowed to ask aguinaldo for christmas?
2. A few days after my wedding, my SSS ID arrived--with my 'SINGLE' status. It took me 8 months to get it. NOW, I have to apply for change of STATUS to MARRIED and wait for another 8 months to get it. How convenient. Crap.
3. As soon as I got back to work, my officemates immediatly asked me if we have a little bun in the oven, already. I said no. Does that come with the territory? Que sera, sera...
   
4. When I told my friends and officemates Im getting married, initial reaction was, how 'far' along are you? Are you pregnant? C'mon. Is getting married equal or imply 'pregnant'?
5. My friends and sister would often times ask me, how's married life? I answer them with: nothing's different except getting used to a new last name. Give me a few months and I'll tell you how it is.
6.